On August 11, 2024, SpaceX launched two satellites for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. These satellites, built by Northrop Grumman, aim to provide broadband communication over the Arctic and high-latitude regions. They carry multiple payloads, including the U.S. military’s Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization (EPS-R) for secure communications, an X-band payload for the Norwegian Armed Forces, a Global Xpress Ka-band payload for commercial satellite operator Viasat, and a Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload. Notably, this marks the first operational U.S. military payload hosted on a commercial satellite by an international partner. The launch also represents SpaceX’s first mission to a Molniya orbit.

The launch of satellites for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) has significant cybersecurity implications. With the inclusion of the U.S. military’s Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization (EPS-R) payload, which provides secure communications for polar regions, the mission increases the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats. The use of commercial satellites hosting military payloads, particularly in international partnerships, introduces complexities in securing sensitive data and communication channels, making it crucial to address vulnerabilities in both the satellite systems and ground stations. If there is not adequate segmentation between the payloads, it is possible for a bad actor to hack into the satellite and obtain information from all payloads.

Reference: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-two-satellites-for-arctic-broadband-mission/