Trust and Authentication in Satellite Systems: Past, Present, and Future

The security landscape of satellite systems has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades. With thousands of satellites launched annually, space-based infrastructure has become increasingly critical for communication, observation, and scientific measurement. However, this growth has also been accompanied by a decrease in the barrier to entry for attacks, driven by the widespread availability of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) and other hardware. In this talk, Joshua will present an overview of the threats and attacks facing satellite systems, and explore methods for protecting them through physical layer authentication and robust protocols. He will also discuss the future of research in this area, highlighting potential directions and challenges.