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Completed TRL 5 (started at 2, targeting 5)
In 2023, NASA issued a space best-practices guide which included substantial discussion regarding information on cybersecurity principles controls, threat actor capabilities, and potential mitigation strategies; however, this guidance has not been incorporated into policies and standards due to the difficulty for integrating significant changes into a space infrastructure that has been unchanged for decades. Unfortunately, cyber threats are becoming more prevalent, and for far too long NASA and other organizations have relied on security by obscurity to protect their assets without new high heritage security protections. This project will develop a flight-like hardware encryption unit demonstrating a full onboard, high-speed encryption solution with corresponding ground system software, leveraging the GSFC Space/ Mission and Cybersecurity Suite (SMaCS), to create a lightweight, reusable cryptographic box to mitigate cyberattack risks and meet requirements for future NASA instruments and missions.
This proposal is within the Cross Cutting Technology and Capabilities (CCTC) focus area and provides a prominent security solution for all future NASA missions and instruments. Significantly, a lightweight security architecture will be required for Distributed Systems Missions (DSM) under CCTCs 3rd mission architectures area. This proposal aligns with several of Goddard’s 2040 vectors. For Vector 1, this work will investigate a novel method for rapidly encrypting incoming and outgoing data for all future systems in all strategic focus areas. This project aligns with Vector 2 because Habitable Worlds Observatory will likely not be exempt from future cybersecurity requirements as NASA responds to the GAO report. Finally, this proposal uniquely enables Vector 5, due to substantial interest in these capabilities from other DoD organizations including DARPA and NSA which can extend into further opportunities for NASA funding.
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