Space ISAC, NASA sign agreement to strengthen space security collaboration
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) signed an agreement this week to enhance collaboration on protecting critical space infrastructure from threats and vulnerabilities.
The agreement, announced 9 April at the 40th Annual Space Symposium, establishes a formal partnership between NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program and Space ISAC, a nonprofit that facilitates threat information sharing within the space sector.
The partnership is intended to promote the exchange of information on a range of space security challenges, including space weather, communication anomalies, spectrum interference, and cybersecurity threats affecting space systems.
Kevin Coggins, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Space Communications and Navigation, said the partnership underscores the importance of public-private cooperation in protecting space assets.
"This agreement marks a crucial step in strengthening the security posture of the space sector," Coggins said. "Through this partnership, NASA is committed to sharing expertise and collaborating with Space ISAC to safeguard critical space infrastructure. By working together as one team, we enhance our collective ability to protect and defend space systems against evolving threats."
Public-private partnerships
Founded in 2019, Space ISAC serves as an information-sharing hub for public and private space industry organizations. The group reached initial operational capability for its Watch Center in 2023 and has since worked with members and government partners to improve incident response, threat mitigation, and resilience efforts across the sector.
Space ISAC’s founding members include defense contractors, technology companies, academic institutions, and research organizations such as Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md.; Northrop Grumman of Falls Church, Va.; Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, Va; MITRE of McLean, Va.; Microsoft of Redmond, Wash.; Purdue University of West Lafayette, Ind.; SES of Betzdorf, Luxembourg; The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif.; L3Harris Technologies of Melbourne, Fla.; Deloitte of New York; Capella Space of San Francisco; the Space Dynamics Laboratory of Logan, Utah; Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory of Laurel, Md.; and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Government partners working with Space ISAC include the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Space Command, the Space Force, the FBI, and international agencies from Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Greece.
Space ISAC and NASA said they plan to expand their joint efforts to foster innovation and build greater resilience against threats targeting the growing global space economy.
Jamie Whitney
Jamie Whitney joined the staff of Military & Aerospace Electronics and Intelligent Aerospace. He brings seven years of print newspaper experience to the aerospace and defense electronics industry.
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