SSL to Validate Payload Cybersecurity for US Air Force

Multiple satellites under construction in SSL’s manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California. Photo: SSL

Innoflight has selected SSL to provide a high fidelity simulation environment for testing the security of hosted payloads on commercial satellites. The capability, which is being developed for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) as part of its Secure IP Payload Accommodation Demonstration Project, will enable SMC to demonstrate cybersecure payload hosting scenarios, concepts of operation, and cybersecurity controls.

The capability will also demonstrate secure IP connections between a government payload operations center and the hosted payload using the existing satellite operator’s networking infrastructure, eliminating the high cost of specialized space to ground communication systems. The hosted payload interface is expected to play a key role in enabling resilient, next-generation space architectures.

“This work will become an integral part of SSL’s secure interface for hosted payloads, and will make the benefits of the hosted payload model more readily accessible to both government and commercial customers,” said Richard White, president of SSL government systems.