Satellites Are Being Hacked and We’re Not Ready
From Ukraine’s ViaSat incident to the quiet race for post-quantum resilience, space is no longer a sanctuary, it’s the next cyber battlefield.
In the latest episode of Tech Command Investing, I sat down with Mathieu Bailly, VP at CYSEC, to uncover the sobering truth: our satellites — and by extension, our national security — are running “in the clear.”
Satellites are running in the clear.
Many critical missions still operate without encryption or authentication. Even now, vast portions of orbital infrastructure communicate openly unprotected, unauthenticated, and exposed.
The weakest link is on Earth.
Ground stations, mission control centers, and supply chains remain the prime attack surfaces. The ViaSat hack in Ukraine proved that attackers don’t need to hit orbit directly the ground segment is the backdoor to space.
The skills gap is systemic.
Aerospace engineers receive little to no cybersecurity training. As a result, satellites are being designed with embedded blind spots vulnerabilities written into their DNA.
Quantum and AI threats are looming.
Quantum computing could soon break today’s encryption. Meanwhile, AI is enabling automated cyberattacks and potential satellite hijacks weaponizing autonomy at machine speed.
Rogue docking is emerging.
As satellite servicing evolves, physical docking between spacecraft is becoming routine. This opens a new dimension of threat: hostile or hijacked satellites that can dock, manipulate, or even disable others.
This isn’t hypothetical ISRO’s SpaDeX mission already demonstrated repeated autonomous docking and power transfer, underscoring how quickly orbital maneuvering capabilities are advancing.
Governments are lagging.
With 10-year procurement cycles, national agencies cannot keep pace with adversaries exploiting agile commercial technologies. The result: a widening gap between regulation, innovation, and threat evolution.
For investors and sovereign stakeholders, this is not niche.
Cyber typically represents around 10% of mature tech sectors.
In space — a potential €1T+ market — this implies a €100 B+ opportunity emerging rapidly.
Regulations are accelerating:
France, Germany, the UK, and the EU are embedding cyber standards into space law. The frontier of Space • Defence • Cyber is converging fast.
At KARISTA Tech II, we’re building a fund at that intersection — where sovereignty, resilience, and deterrence will be defined by startups, not incumbents.
Key Takeaways
Satellites often lack basic encryption.
Ground infrastructure is the most vulnerable point.
The aerospace sector faces a major cybersecurity skills gap.
Quantum and AI attacks are rapidly approaching.
Rogue docking could transform space into a kinetic cyber arena.
Governments are years behind in regulation.
Space cyber is a €100 B+ investment opportunity.
Closing
The cyber war in space has already started. The question is no longer if satellites will be attacked, it’s who will secure the orbital commons.*
For policy-makers, defence leaders, and investors — space cyber is the new frontier of sovereignty.
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