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Call for Papers: Workshop on the Security of Space and Satellite Systems
(SpaceSec) 2025

The call for papers is now open.

In the upcoming years, a significant increase in the number of satellites is expected as novel mega-constellations take their position in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Including initiatives like Starlink and OneWeb, projections suggest the deployment of over 100,000 satellites in the next several years. They have increasingly become integral components of both consumer-oriented and critical infrastructures.

These critical functions, ranging from global navigation and positioning systems to providing phone connections and imaging data, play an ever more crucial role in modern society. The precarious place of satellite systems in the communication and navigation infrastructure naturally makes them attractive targets for cyber attacks. This was evidenced in a major attack on the ViaSat network during the initial days of the war in Ukraine and ongoing disruptions of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) around the world.

The principal vulnerability of satellite systems has been public knowledge since the mid-2000s. Despite early warnings, the security of both legacy and novel deployments remains severely lacking. Recent publications have renewed interest and highlighted the persistence of security issues, now on a much larger scale.

SpaceSec aims to bring together academic researchers, industry professionals, and government representatives to contribute to new theories, technologies, and systems for security/privacy challenges in space and on the ground.

Submission Guidelines for Papers

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper types are welcome: (1) Short Paper: Maximum 4 pages. Short papers should provide enough context for the reader to understand the contribution. Preliminary work is encouraged but not required; (2) Long Paper: Maximum 8 pages. Traditional research papers.

Submissions should follow the double-column NDSS format. Page limits exclude the bibliography and appendices, which can be up to 2 pages for long papers and 1 page for short papers.

The submission portal for papers is: https://spacesec25.hotcrp.com/

We invite submissions in the following categories:

  • Research Paper: A novel contribution in line with the topics of interest.
  • Position Paper: New or provocative ideas of interest to the satellite and space communities.
  • Experience Paper: Lessons learned from experiments or deployments.
  • Preliminary Work Paper: Early results from interesting and new ideas.
  • Extended Work Paper: Unpublished aspects of previously published work.

Anonymization and the Review Process: The review process is double-blind. All submissions should be anonymized.

Publication: SpaceSec25 proceedings will be published post-conference with the NDSS Symposium 2025.

Further Notes: At least one author of each accepted paper must register for the workshop and present the paper. Simultaneous submission of the same work to multiple venues, submission of previously published work, and plagiarism are prohibited.

Areas of Interest

The scope of SpaceSec includes systems directly or indirectly related to or dependent on space and satellite systems, including the communication links (satellite-ground, satellite-satellite), the ground segment, and the space segment. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

Space Systems Security

  • Small Satellite and CubeSat Security
  • Ground/User Segment Attacks and Vulnerabilities
  • Legacy Space System Security Analysis
  • Space System Security Testbeds
  • Measurement Infrastructure and Data Collection of Space Mission Security Data
  • Security of Launch Vehicles and Launch Processes
  • GNSS Attack and Defense Mechanisms
  • Security of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Technologies
  • Data- and ML-driven security of space missions
  • Secure Satellite Software/Hardware Development
  • Reverse Engineering and Tampering of Space and Ground Segments
  • Side-Channels and Fault Attacks on Space- or User Segment Devices
  • In-Orbit Intrusion Detection

Privacy and Usability

  • Localization and Anonymity in satellite networks
  • Privacy issues in satellite communication
  • Ethical Aspects of Satellite Security
  • Usability of existing Space Software and Standards

Communications Security

  • Satellite Link Jamming and Spoofing
  • Securing and Attacking Inter-Satellite Links
  • Optical Satellite Communication Security
  • (Post-quantum) Cryptography for Space Communications
  • LEO Constellation Routing Security
  • Secure Optimized Satellite Communication Protocols (e.g., PEPs, QUIC)
  • Key Management for (LEO) Constellations and Space Systems

Space Security Strategies

  • Economics of Space Security
  • Game Theory-based Security Analysis Approaches
  • Red Teaming and Blue Teaming in Space
  • Supply Chain Security for Space Mission Components
  • Forensics in Space Security Incidents

Important Dates

  • Paper Submission Deadline: 9 December 2024 Anywhere-on-earth (AoE)
  • Notification of Acceptance: 16 January 2025 Anywhere-on-earth (AoE)
  • Workshop Date: 24 February 2025 (Pacific Standard Time)
  • Camera Ready Submission: 22 March 2025 Anywhere-on-earth (AoE)