Critical Space Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Challenges in Outer Space: A Review of India’s Space Security

Critical Space Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Challenges in Outer Space: A Review of India’s Space Security

연구 분야: Infrastructure

학회: International Conference on Global Security, Safety, and Sustainability

Outer space tech architecture including satellites and various other functionalities is critical to a State’s complex cyber infrastructures. While there is an overarching concern about state-sponsored cyber-attacks in the South Asian region, the states in the bloc have not developed regional treaties or domestic policies that adequately address these concerns. With rapidly growing technology and booming population, it is becoming difficult for the South Asian states to suspect the vulnerabilities of cyber politics. The volatile region is dominated by outer space security threats that affect the geopolitical stability of the region. In this context, it becomes critical for states to develop strong policies that can counter these growing concerns. India, which is slowly becoming a major space-faring nation in the region introduced its new Indian Space Policy (hereafter ‘ISP’) in 2023. India does not have a national space legislation which further exaggerates the problem of not having systems in place to deal with critical issues. The 2023 ISP has several inherent defects in its structure, terminologies and relation with international law obligations. However, one of the most concerning parts is the complete absence of ‘cybersecurity’ in the policy document. This paper attempts to critically review the Indian Space Policy through a comparative analysis of various national security policies and develop a holistic framework for collecting sensitive data related to satellite payloads, remote sensing, and imaging capabilities. The paper also delves into how global governance efforts can develop technological architecture against cyber threats and vulnerabilities in space.