Trust and Truth in SSA

The Role of Space Situational Awareness

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data tracks tens of thousands of orbital debris objects and active satellites to calculate conjunction assessments and prevent catastrophic collisions in orbit.

Centralized Data Repositories and Trust Dynamics

Due to the immense radar and optical sensing infrastructure required to monitor orbital paths, most satellite operators rely on centralized third-party repositories for conjunction alerts and ephemeris tracking.

Threat Modeling SSA Data Manipulation

A determined attacker targeting SSA data feeds can alter conjunction projections, either concealing genuine collision risks or injecting falsified warnings to force unnecessary collision-avoidance maneuvers.

Simulating Orbital Conjunction Attacks

Simulated attack scenarios illustrate how subtle modifications to tracking data can induce satellite owners to burn vital fuel reserves, degrade operational lifespans, or shift orbits into hostile positions.

Defenses and Data Verification

Mitigating data tampering requires verifiable telemetry feeds, multi-source sensor aggregation, and cryptographic authentication between tracking radars, orbital catalog operators, and satellite operations centers.