PALO ALTO, Calif. - SSL has been selected by Innoflight, Inc. to provide a high fidelity simulation environment for testing the security of hosted payloads on commercial satellites. The capability, which is being developed for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) as part of its Secure IP Payload Accommodation Demonstration Project, will enable SMC to demonstrate cybersecure payload hosting scenarios, concepts of operation, and cybersecurity controls.
The capability will also demonstrate advanced, secure internet protocol connections between a government payload operations center and the hosted payload using the existing satellite operator’s networking infrastructure, eliminating the high cost of specialized space to ground communication systems.
Under a hosted payload scheme, a government will pay a commercial satellite operator to install a government-developed payload on board a commercially operated satellite. Hosted payloads offer promise to both the military and commercial satellite operators by providing a low-cost way to get military payloads into orbit while providing satellite operators with a ready source of cash.
A few hosted payload contracts have been signed, such as one between the U.S. Air Force and SES for the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) and another between the Australian Defence Force and Intelsat for a UHF payload. However, hosted payloads have not caught on as quickly as some in the industry had hoped. The government needs to establish funding sources, standardize business practices, and coordinate military and commercial timetables before hosted payloads are likely to gain acceptance.
SSL will use its experience building satellites that include hosted payloads to demonstrate secure interface platforms. These secure platforms to communicate with the hosted payload are extremely important for the DoD to be able to use the payload.
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