This open access book offers a structured view of cybersecurity challenges across the full lifecycle of space systems, at a time where space is experiencing an unprecedented commercial and technological boom. Advances in launch technologies, electronics, miniaturization, and manufacturing processes have dramatically lowered the entry barriers for space missions and operations, and have led to the proliferation of thousands of satellites launched every year. Space is no longer a sparse and isolated environment, but a dense, interconnected, and highly dynamic ecosystem. Satellites now form critical infrastructures that support essential services on Earth, from global internet access and financial transactions to emergency response, transportation systems, and national security operations. 

However, this extraordinary growth has been closely accompanied by an equally significant increase in cybersecurity threats, and space systems are exposed to a broad spectrum of attackers, including cybercriminals, hacktivists, insider threats, and opportunistic adversaries, mirroring the diversity of threats long observed in terrestrial IT systems. Effective analysis requires an understanding of space system architectures and constraints, adversarial behaviors and risk dynamics, available technical protections, and the regulatory and institutional contexts in which space activities are conducted. The book provides a coherent framework for navigating these perspectives through a wide range of technical, operational, and organizational considerations.

Part I sets the basis for understanding cybersecurity in space systems, introduces satellite communication architectures, examines security challenges arising from the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, and addresses relevant cryptographic approaches, including post-quantum cryptography and satellite-based quantum key distribution. Part II focuses on adversarial perspectives, challenges, and systemic risks affecting space infrastructures, and examines emerging threats. Part III addresses technical solutions for protecting space systems and their supporting infrastructure, covering defensive mechanisms at different layers. Part IV examines the broader context in which space cybersecurity is addressed, regulatory and governance frameworks, economic and organizational factors, and approaches for anticipating future challenges.
 
The book intends to serve as a long-term reference for researchers, engineers, practitioners, policymakers, and decision-makers engaged in the development, operation, and regulation of space systems.

Vincent Lenders is Full Professor of Cybersecurity and FNR PEARL Chair at the University of Luxembourg, where he leads the Systems and Network Security (SNS) Group within the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT). Prior to joining academia, he served as the founding Director of the Swiss Cyber-Defence Campus and headed the Cyber Security and Data Science Division at armasuisse Science and Technology, the research and technology centre of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence. He holds a Ph.D. (2006) and an M.Sc. (2001) in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from ETH Zürich, and conducted postdoctoral research at Princeton University (2007). His research spans cyber defence, network security, and the security of critical infrastructure, with a particular focus on space and satellite systems. Professor Lenders is a co-founder of the OpenSky Network, a global open air traffic surveillance platform used widely in academic research, and of the NDSS Workshop on the Security of Space and Satellite Systems (SpaceSec), which he chaired in 2026. He has published extensively in top-tier security venues and contributes actively to bridging academic research with national and international cyber defence efforts.

Evan Blezinger is a data analyst specializing in technology monitoring. He currently collaborates with the Cyber-Defence Campus, applying his expertise to track emerging technological trends. Previously, he contributed to research on quantum technologies in a similar capacity. Evan holds a degree in Forensic Science from the University of Lausanne, where he specialized in digital forensics.

Valentin Mulder is a Scientific Project Manager at the Cyber-Defence Campus of armasuisse S+T. He holds a Master degree in Legal Issues, Crime, and Security of Information Technologies from the University of Lausanne. Prior to this, he worked in the banking industry, particularly in the area of online fraud.

Dr. Alain Mermoud is the Head of Technology and Solutions of the Sovereign Technology Center SA, located at the Unlimitrust Campus by SICPA. As Sovereign Data Program Manager, he leads the development of bespoke digital solutions for governments and institutional clients, with a focus on AI sovereignty and space systems. Before joining SICPA, Alain spent six years on the executive team of the Cyber-Defence Campus at armasuisse Science and Technology. During this time, he was also a member of the EPFL CYD Fellowships committee and led the Technology Monitoring team. He holds a PhD in Information Systems from HEC Lausanne. His academic contributions include over 35 scientific publications in leading conferences and journals, as well as several co-edited books published by Springer on topics such as data protection, encryption technologies, large language models, and quantum technologies. In total, his publications have accumulated more than 770 citations, and his current i10-index is 22 (as of June 2026).

Julian Jang-Jaccard is a Scientific Project Manager at the Cyber-Defence Campus. Previously, she was an Associate Professor and Head of the Cybersecurity Laboratory at Massey University, New Zealand, and a pioneering member of the Cybersecurity Research team at CSIRO, Australia. She has published over 100 papers in prestigious venues, including IEEE and ACM, and received numerous multimillion-dollar research awards while collaborating with top ICT companies and universities worldwide. She holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Sydney, Australia, in 2002 and 2007, respectively.