Cyberattacks Temporarily Halt Advanced Telescopes: Security Concerns in Space Industry
In recent developments, one of the world’s prominent astronomical observatories fell victim to cyberattacks, resulting in the temporary shutdown of two of its telescopes. The affected entity, the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), which is under the jurisdiction of the United States’ National Science Foundation, confirmed the incidents in a statement reported by Space.com.
According to NOIRLab, the organization is diligently working alongside cybersecurity experts to restore the impacted telescopes and its website to full functionality. The incident, which disrupted operations at the Gemini North Telescope and the Gemini South Telescope located in Hawaii and Chile, respectively, transpired on August 1.
Interestingly, these cyberattacks occurred just days before the United States National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) issued a two-page bulletin highlighting the espionage and cyberattack threats facing space agency companies and research organizations.
The bulletin emphasized, “Foreign spies and hackers recognize the importance of the commercial space industry to the US economy and national security, including the growing dependence of critical infrastructure on space-based assets. They see US space-related innovation and assets as potential threats as well as valuable opportunities to acquire vital technologies and expertise.”
An official source, speaking to news agencies, underscored the significance of safeguarding the growing space industry, stating, “We anticipate growing threats to this burgeoning sector of the US economy.”
As of now, the motive behind the cyberattacks and their origin remain unidentified. Investigations are ongoing, and NOIRLab has expressed its commitment to enhanced security measures and transparency. The organization intends to share more information with the community when feasible, aligning with its dedication to both security and transparency in managing its infrastructure.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated case within the astronomical observatory community. In October 2022, hackers disrupted operations at the Atacama Large Millimetre/Submillimetre Array (ALMA) located in Chile. Furthermore, even US space agency NASA has experienced cyberattacks in recent years, notably falling victim to the worldwide SolarWinds breach in 2021.
These cyberattacks highlight the growing concern over the vulnerability of critical space infrastructure and the need for enhanced security measures in the space industry. The space sector plays a pivotal role in both the US economy and national security, making it an attractive target for foreign espionage and cyberattacks.
NOIRLab’s recent experience underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and cybersecurity efforts to protect not only advanced telescopes but also the broader space-based assets that are vital to modern life. The investigation into these attacks will likely yield crucial insights into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats in the space industry.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 3rd September 2023
