Space pirates are now a reality. What are they?
What's the story
As space becomes rapidly commercialized, the threat of piracy is also looming large.
The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG) is looking into these risks and how they can be mitigated.
CSCPG's Executive Director Marc Feldman and cybersecurity specialist Hugh Taylor believe attempts to hack satellites are already happening.
They recommend creating a specialized space-focused agency and armed space-faring vehicles to take on such pirates.
Rising threat
A growing concern
Feldman, a space entrepreneur and finance expert, has co-authored a book titled "Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit" with Taylor.
Stressing the need to address space piracy now, Felman said, "Now is the time to start thinking and talking about mitigating the threat of piracy in space."
Feldman and Taylor foresee both physical and digital attacks on space assets in near future.
Countermeasures
Addressing the threat of space piracy
Taylor recommended a lead agency to coordinate efforts to fight space piracy.
He proposed the US Space Force could take on this role, though it may not be structured or tasked for the same at the moment.
Alternatively, he suggested a dedicated space security agency within the US intelligence community or involving entities like the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to tackle this issue globally.
Risk management
Potential scenarios and response strategies
Feldman imagined possible cases of space piracy, like hijacking a broadcast satellite to sabotage a major global media event.
He stressed the importance of rapid action and new technologies to combat such threats.
"As of now there is no way to quickly respond," he said, noting that small, agile and armed transportation to space could prove critical in such cases.
Feldman also noted that crime often leads to tech innovation, just like how pirates shaped colonial shipbuilding practices.