DEF CON 32 - Small Satellite Modeling and Defender Software - Kyle Murbach

The project models and secures small satellite systems using a Raspberry Pi-based test bed and software called Small Satellite Defender, validated on an actual orbiting satellite. 0:00

Key Takeaways:
• A realistic small satellite test bed was built using Raspberry Pi hardware, including cameras, RF radios, and Sense HAT sensors to simulate orbit, communication, and power systems 2:00.
• Cyberattack scenarios such as man-in-the-middle, denial-of-service, and spoofing were demonstrated, showing how vulnerabilities could compromise satellite operations 11:51.
• Small Satellite Defender software was developed to monitor system health, detect anomalies, and prevent attacks via command validation, timeouts, and health checks 14:04.
• The software was successfully deployed and tested on a real orbiting satellite operated by Lockheed Martin, proving its real-world viability 19:43.
• The team is now advancing to test security measures on commercial TUAT kits to validate performance on actual satellites 21:41.

This work provides a lightweight, real-time security solution to protect small satellites before launch, reducing the risk of compromise and costly satellite failures. 23:33

Sources:

• 0:00 Introduction to the project, speaker background, and goals
• 2:00 Test bed design and components including sensors and communication setup
• 11:51 Attack scenarios tested, including man-in-the-middle and spoofing