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The US intelligence community has issued a warning to the domestic space industry regarding the growing threat of espionage and satellite attacks from countries such as China and Russia. The bulletin, jointly issued by the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the US Air Force, highlights the various techniques that pose a risk to US space-related companies, including cyberattacks, strategic investments, and targeting of supply chain nodes.

The warning emphasizes that foreign intelligence operations not only put company secrets at risk but also have the potential to disrupt and degrade US satellite communications, remote sensing, and imaging capabilities. This comes as recent attacks on satellites and the increasing reliance on space for both the US economy and national security have been recognized.

To counter these risks, the bulletin advises companies to monitor and log anomalies, establish insider-threat programs to identify potential moles, and exercise caution regarding visitation requests from foreign entities, as well as outreach efforts at conferences and online. It also cautions against unsolicited offers for joint ventures with companies tied to foreign governments or state-owned enterprises.

While China and Russia have historically denied allegations of hacking and other attempts to infiltrate or disrupt space systems, they have not responded to the current warning. To support medium and smaller satellite companies that may be unaware of the risks, the US government aims to assist them in enhancing their mitigation efforts and resilience.

Even large satellite companies with existing government links have been targeted. Viasat Inc. experienced a cyberattack in 2022, leading to the replacement of more than 45,000 modems across Europe and beyond. Starlink, a part of SpaceX, also faced jamming attacks while providing service to Ukraine. In response, the US Space Force recently unveiled a new targeting unit focused on addressing threats posed by adversaries in space and at ground stations to US satellite systems.

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