Satellite networks in low Earth orbit are expanding rapidly, supporting communications, sensing and navigation at global scale. Mirroring that growth on the ground, data centers are being built to meet rising computational demand. Technological advancements could make in-orbit computing a viable way to reduce strain on energy, water and land resources.
Processing data in space, however, introduces a different set of constraints.
Space systems operate with strict limits on power, compute and physical access. Failures are much harder to service, and as missions extend farther from Earth, communication delays limit real-time intervention. Systems must also contend with interference, debris and environmental hazards alongside more familiar cyber threats.
These constraints are driving interest in autonomous, on-orbit monitoring and response.
Sanjoy Paul, executive director of Rice Nexus and lecturer in computer science at Rice University, is available to discuss security and resilience for space-based systems.
He can speak to:
- Cybersecurity risks facing satellites and in-space computing
- How orbital data centers are expected to develop over the next 5-10 years
- Why space systems require autonomous, on-orbit decision-making
- The role of edge AI in monitoring and responding to threats
- Vulnerabilities in communications between space and ground systems
- Broader implications for commercial space and national security
To schedule an interview, contact media relations specialist Silvia Cernea Clark at sc220@rice.edu.