Space assets are under silent siege. Cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought

The recent Viasat breach, attributed to the Chinese-affiliated “Salt Typhoon” campaign, reflects an ongoing and under-addressed risk in the United States space sector. As with the 2022 KA-SAT incident during the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this event highlights the persistence of cyber threats targeting satellite networks, especially during early operational phases and launch.