CDI Space Security Update #7
A project of the Center for Defense Information and the Secure World Foundation
Oct. 10, 2008
Center for Defense Information
www.cdi.org
 
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NB#1: The retirement of NASA's shuttle fleet is pending in 2010, with the replacement Ares/Orion booster-spacecraft combination not due to be ready until 2015. The United States relies on Russian spacecraft to service the International Space Station (ISS). However, due to diplomatic tensions between both nations over U.S. missile defense plans for Eastern Europe and the crisis in Georgia, this arrangement may well be in jeopardy, explains CDI Senior Analyst Victoria Samson in "One of Missile Defense’s Unintended Consequences: Restricting U.S. Access to the ISS?”, available here. 
 
NB#2: Anti-satellite weapons and space debris are increasing threats to the security of outer space. This key finding comes from “Space Security 2008,” a study issued Sept. 21, 2008, by Project Ploughshares, which coordinated and published the report. The report is available here. 

NB#3: The controversial space-based missile defense program appears to have found an initial way through fiscal year 2009 (FY 09) debates in Congress, yet its future remains unclear despite the Missile Defense Agency's intention to fund it. CDI Senior Analyst Victoria Samson explains the situation in "Space-based missile defense: Yes? No? Maybe so?" Her analysis was published on The University of Mississippi School of Law blog, Res Communis, and is available here. 

NB#4: A new report by Bruce MacDonald is out on “China, Space Weapons and U.S. Security.” Published by the Council on Foreign Relations Press, this report explains how we are approaching what MacDonald calls, “an era where space is a potentially far more contested domain than in the past, with few rules." His report argues, “The risks inherent in space conflict, where vital U.S. interests are at stake, suggest that preventing space conflict should be a major U.S. security objective.” Full text of the report is available here.  
 
 
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1. No Separate Command For AFCYBER
2. It’s Official: Galileo Can Have Military Users
3. U.S. Seeking Out Cyber Warriors
4. Fourth SBIRS Satellite to be Bought
5. Israel Hoping for Commercial Funding for Its Milsat Programs
6. TSAT Delayed, Again
7. SpaceX’s Falcon I Goes Into Orbit
8. Chinese Astronauts Successfully Perform Spacewalk
9. Cuba and Venezuela May Join GLONASS
10. U.S. in Need of Official Space Strategy
11. India’s Space Program Blasting Off
12. DoD Decides to Acquire Two Commercial-Class Spy Satellites
13. Future of the New Cyber Command Uncertain
14. Leery of the Millennials?
 
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1. No Separate Command For AFCYBER

The Air Force has backed away from its plan to develop a separate headquarters for a Cyber Command, which it had hoped would be responsible for protecting cyber operations for the Pentagon. Instead, Air Force officials decided that the service’s Space Command will host the Air Force’s cyber operations. According to General Robert Kehler, commander at the Space Command, "I am confident that the move of the cyberspace mission to Air Force Space Command allows us to take advantage of cross-domain synergies by combining the cyber and space missions under one command.” The Air Force’s interim Cyber Command has been headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. This announcement to place Cyber Command under AF Space Command was made while the Air Force was trying to determine how best to improve its nuclear command and control after several serious breaches in security. As such, the nuclear mission has also been given to the AF Space Command, which has been renamed AF Strategic Command. Specifics about the reshuffling are expected to be announced by the perhaps by the end of the month.
 (Colorado Springs Gazette, Oct. 7, 2008; GovExec.com, Oct. 8, 2008; Air Force Times, Oct. 9, 2008)

2. It’s Official: Galileo Can Have Military Users

During a meeting between the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) on Sept. 26, 2008, it was decided that Galileo, Europe’s satellite navigation system, can have military users. At this same meeting, the ministers agreed to an ESA proposal that pushes for cooperation to improve Europe’s ability to provide space situational awareness; in November, ESA will solicit its members for the $144.7 million needed over three years to start coordinating optical and radar assets. These two decisions blur the boundary between civilian and military space for Europe. Meanwhile, Giove-B, one of the two demonstration satellites on-orbit for the Galileo system suffered what program managers called a “sudden event upset" on Sept. 9. Its system shut down entirely while officials checked everything out. According to Didier Faivre, the head of the navigation department at the European Space Agency (ESA), “The satellite was in no danger; it was in safe mode… We are now fairly certain that it was radiation exposure.”Accordingly, it was brought back up on Sept. 24. The Giove-B is in a medium earth orbit of 23,173 kilometers.
(Defense News, Oct. 6, 2008; Space News, Oct. 1, 2008)

3. U.S. Seeking Out Cyber Warriors

Gen. Kevin Chilton, chief the U.S. Strategic Command, announced that the military is searching for personnel who can both defend U.S. systems against attack and conduct cyber attacks. Said Chilton, “On your worst day, you want to be able to make sure that the military network still works so that you can effect either the defense of the United States ... or an offensive action, should they be required.” A February 2008 report by the Department of Defense’s inspector general expressed concern about the Pentagon’s ability to repel attacks on its computer networks: “DoD mission-critical systems may not be able to sustain warfighter operations during a disruptive or catastrophic event.” Along those lines, Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and head of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on emerging threats, cybersecurity and science and technology pushing for the United States to develop an offensive cybersecurity capability. His justification is that “[t]he best defense is a good offense” and that it is a "necessary deterrent.” Langevin also is recommending that the United States declassify much of its mysterious Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI).
(ArmyTimes.com, Sept. 30, 2008; The Washington Times, Sept. 29, 2008)

4. Fourth SBIRS Satellite to be Bought

The Pentagon has decided to go ahead and buy a fourth satellite for the troubled Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), a satellite network intended to replace the 1970s-era Defense Support Program constellation. SBIRS originally was planned to have five satellites, but cost growth and technical difficulties prompted a revamp in 2005 and a new acquisition goal of three satellites. The Pentagon has changed its mind and will try to slowly get back to the original plan of eventually buying five satellites for SBIRS. According to Col. Roger Teague, the Air Force’s SBIRS Wing Commander, “Procurement of this fourth satellite will complete the SBIRS constellation that was initially envisioned." In addition to revamping SBIRS, the Air Force started another system for the SBIRS mission called the Alternative Infrared Satellite System (AIRSS), which over the past year has become the Third Generation Infrared Surveillance System (3GIRS). No word on how this fourth satellite will affect the other satellite systems’ structures.
(Space News, Sept. 10, 2008)

5. Israel Hoping for Commercial Funding for Its Milsat Programs

Due to funding problems, Israel is turning to its commercial space sector in the hopes of getting a sufficient influx of cash to keep its military satellite programs afloat. The estimated $100 million Israel annually spends on its military satellites programs is inadequate for what Israel’s plans for the future, particularly for its Earth observation and microsatellites. Chaim Eshed, the ministry of defense’s head of space programs, stated, “I need key investors that are ready to put $500 million to $1 billion.”
(Defense News, Sept. 22, 2008)
 
6. TSAT Delayed, Again

The $9 billion contract for the Transformational Satellite Communications program (TSAT) has been delayed, this time reportedly due to actions by bidding companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin that Undersecretary for Acquisition John Young has likened to their having “drug their feet.” Young was unhappy with the bids the companies submitted for the satellite network intended by the Air Force to provide next-generation data communication (via lasers, instead of the current radio waves). Thus, the contract isn’t expected to be awarded until at least Dec. 15, instead of Sept. 30 as had been originally anticipated. TSAT’s launch date has been pushed back seven times: instead of occurring in 2009, it now is scheduled for sometime around April 2018.
(Bloomberg.com, Sept. 22, 2008)
 
7. SpaceX’s Falcon I Goes Into Orbit

SpaceX’s two-stage Falcon 1 spacecraft was successfully launched into orbit on Sept. 28, 2008. This marked the first time any private liquid-fueled booster made it into orbit; SpaceX had tried three times prior. Said a jubilant Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, "This is one of the best days of my life.” For this launch, Falcon 1 carried a mock satellite called the “Ratsat” to an estimated altitude of 500 to 700 kilometers, which is expected to remain in orbit for the next five to ten years.
(Space.com, Sept. 29, 2008)
 
8. Chinese Astronaut Successfully Perform Spacewalk

During China’s third manned space mission, the Shenzhou VII, Zhai Zhigang successfully completed a space walk on Sept. 27. Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in western China, the Shenzhou VII also carried two other astronauts. On Sept. 28, it finished its 68-hour mission and landed safely in northern China. Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson for China’s manned space program, said after the end of the Shenzhou VII mission, “We believe that as long as we can make further progress in science and technology, we can achieve the dream of a manned space flight to the moon in the near future.”  
(Agence France-Presse, Sept. 28, 2008; The New York Times, Sept. 26, 2008)
 
9. Cuba and Venezuela May Join GLONASS

Russia is considering extending the use of its satellite navigation system to Cuba and Venezuela. According to Anatoly Perminov, chief of the Russian Federal Space Agency, or Roskosmos, there have been discussions between the countries regarding the new space cooperation, going so far as to say that Russia may assist in the construction of a space center in Cuba. The satellite system, GLONASS, was originally developed for missile targeting by the Soviet military in order to compete with the U.S. Global Positioning System. GLONASS is now managed by the Russian Defense Ministry. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has recently increased spending for the system by $2.61 billion in an attempt to have the long-delayed project completed in 2009 with 24 orbiting satellites.
(AFP, Sept. 17, 2008)
 
10. U.S. in Need of Official Space Strategy

On Sept. 9, 2008, U.S. Air Force Space and Missile System Center Commander Lt. Gen. John Sheridan stated that the United States requires a national space strategy. Speaking at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ annual Space Conference and Exposition in San Diego, Sheridan stressed the need for a policy that would bring space issues back to the forefront, both in the United States as well as globally. The strategy should not only emphasize the importance of space but should also focus on exploration and continued U.S. pre-eminence in space related issues. Furthermore, the strategy ought to encourage public and Congressional interest in order to promote funding and education in the aerospace industry. According to Sheridan, “we are on the doorstep of our next fifty years in space.”
(Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Sept. 10, 2008)

11. India’s Space Program Blasting Off

India is set to launch its first mission to the moon. On Oct. 19, 2008, the Chandrayaan-1 space craft is scheduled to launch from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The vehicle will be launched by an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and will carry payloads from the United States, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria, as well as from India. The spacecraft was built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). ISRO also developed five instruments, including a Terrain Mapping Stereo Camera which will be used for topographic mapping of the moon. The European Space Agency (ESA) also contributed 3 instruments for the mission. These instruments include the SIR-2, a near-infrared spectrometer; the SARA, a sub-kilo electron volt Atom Reflecting Analyzer, and the C1XS, an X-ray spectrometer. These instruments will be used to gather data ranging from the Moon’s geological make-up to the effects of space weathering and solar wind on the Moon’s surface. In addition to this undertaking, the Indian government recently approved a second mission to the Moon within the next few years. This mission will involve landing a rover on the Moon’s surface to conduct chemical analyses and to explore for resources.
(Press Trust of India, Sept. 19, 2008; European Space Agency, Sept. 29, 2008)

12. DoD Decides to Acquire Two Commercial-Class Spy Satellites

The Pentagon has decided to purchase and launch two commercial imaging satellites by 2012 for a price of $1.7 billion. The satellites, known as the Broad Area Space-Based Imagery Collector (BASIC) system, will be used to complement classified satellites already in orbit. According to a memorandum of agreement signed Sept. 8 by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) will acquire the satellites and associated launching equipment while the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) will coordinate the tasking, analysis and distribution of the gathered imagery. Critics of the program point out that the Pentagon is competing with private domestic satellite companies that have satellites with similar capabilities already in orbit. This violates a presidential directive to purchase as much satellite imagery as possible from domestic satellite companies to help them compete with foreign, government-subsidized satellite industries. Furthermore, the plan involves putting already existing technology into orbit four years from now when better equipment will most likely be available. Supporters point out that with government ownership of the satellites, the various agencies of the intelligence community will have the first opportunity to access the imagery.
(The New York Times, Sept. 18, 2008; Associated Press, Sept. 17, 2008; Space News, Sept. 15, 2008; Reuters, Sept. 10, 2008)
 
13. Future of the New Cyber Command Uncertain

The Pentagon is currently in the process of creating a new military cyberspace command; however, the specifics of such a command are still unclear. The new command would not only be charged with the defense of the military’s computer network, it would also be responsible for offensive operations against the networks of potential adversaries. While the Air Force is expected to announce its decision regarding the structure of the command sometime in October, early speculation suggests that U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) in Omaha, Neb., will be the site of the new joint command. The command is expected to be comprised of elements from the Air Force, as well as from the Navy’s Naval Network Warfare Command and the Army’s Network Enterprise Technology Command.
(Government Executive, Sept. 22 2008; Dayton Daily News, Sept. 10, 2008)
 
14. Leery of the Millennials?

The Pentagon is worried about an internal challenge to its cybersecurity from young Defense Department employees, a.k.a. the “Millennials.” The Web 2.0 revolution, characterized by the use of such social networking sites as Facebook and MySpace, operates largely outside of military protective firewalls. The emphasis on information-sharing is in stark contrast to the Pentagon’s tradition of only doing business within its own protected cyber sphere. While the Pentagon has been able to secure desktop computers, mobile devices are proving to be a difficult challenge. According to John Hale, information officer for the director of national intelligence, “What keeps security people up at night is not the Iranians or the Chinese, it’s these things,” (referring to his Blackberry). Currently, the biggest hurdle to securing the virtual communities while allowing the benefits of information sharing has to do with cost; namely, how to get it done in an affordable manner. Says John Garing, chief information officer at the Defense Information Systems Agency, “We haven’t cracked the nut on how to get it in an affordable way and get the benefits the millennials get in everyday life.” While the issue largely involves Pentagon’s own staff, the fear is that al-Qaida or other potential enemies will exploit unsecure networks to their advantage.
(National Defense Magazine, October 2008)

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