As technology advances, satellite imagery keeps getting better and better. Maxar Intelligence showcased this with their WorldView Legion satellites that launched on May 2nd ,2024 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The two satellites that were launched have the capability to collect 30 cm-class imagery, which can be used for a range of things from defense to urban planning. In fact, Maxar has a $3.2 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to provide imagery and mapping services for intel. These satellites showcase Maxar Intelligence’s increasing ability to enhance revisit rates and imaging capability.
There’s numerous cybersecurity implications if an adversary was to get a hold of the satellite or its data. For one, a bad actor could block satellite images from getting downlinked or hold them ransom to prevent information about malicious activities from being known. Or they could make it look like the malicious activities aren’t even happening by manipulating the data. Another possibility is that adversaries could hack into the satellite and just sit back and view the same data that another country is getting and gain intelligence. One thing to note is that 30-cm imagery is a small and precise snapshot of a given area. This would make it a lot easier to spy on people and get tons of detail without having to send in a full team to investigate.
The company does make it known that they adhere to industry best practices and standards from NIST, CIS, and OWASP. Since Maxar Intelligence is working with the NRO, it would be expected that money from their contract would get put towards building up their cybersecurity. If the imagery from these satellites becomes compromised, then it will also look poorly on the U.S government and make them look like a weak link. This would poise them to be susceptible to even more attacks in the future.
Reference: https://spacenews.com/maxar-intelligence-unveils-first-images-from-next-generation-worldview-legion-satellites/