Institute of Physics - Securing the Future of Satellite Networks: Collisions, Cyberattacks, and the Overcrowded Sky

Space is becoming increasingly crowded as more satellites are launched to support global communications, navigation, and weather tracking. This lecture explores how the modern orbital environment has changed, and why the growth of satellite constellations creates new challenges for keeping spacecraft safe, reliable, and secure.

The talk focuses on the move from manual ground control to autonomous, self-coordinating satellites that can make rapid decisions about navigation and collision avoidance. It also looks at the cybersecurity risks that come with that autonomy, including the possibility of digital deception affecting satellite behaviour.

The lecture is delivered by Beth Probert, a Space Technology Researcher at the University of Strathclyde, and examines how physics and cybersecurity combine to protect Earth’s orbital skies.