Securing ICAM in spacecraft-based missions

Whether your operations are orbiting Earth or heading for the Moon, there’s risk if you’re waiting for a login to time out. In space, where communication can be delayed by minutes or even hours, identity becomes just as critical as propulsion or navigation. That’s why ICAM in DDIL environments — Disconnected, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited — isn’t just a cybersecurity challenge; it’s a mission-enabling necessity. 

NASA, the US Space Force, and their international partners rely on complex systems across satellites, space stations, and autonomous vehicles. These systems require authentication and access control in places where network connectivity can’t be counted on. Traditional identity solutions fall short in these conditions. What’s needed is a space-adapted approach to ICAM — resilient, autonomous, and engineered for isolation.

From autonomy to access control, keep reading to explore the technical challenges and cutting-edge approaches shaping ICAM in some of the most extreme conditions imaginable.

The unique DDIL challenges of  ICAM in space operations

Operating ICAM systems in space means adapting to conditions that defy the norms of ground-based networking. The obstacles are significant, from unstable communication links to limited physical access, and require specialized approaches.

Intermittent communication with Earth

In DDIL conditions, identity and access systems cannot assume real-time connectivity. That means traditional cloud-based identity providers or centralized authentication servers can’t be reached when they’re needed most. Latency and dropout aren’t just inconveniences — they’re expected.

This means space systems must operate with a high degree of autonomy, managing credentials and making access decisions locally, often with cached or pre-issued credentials that remain valid through long periods of disconnection.

Enforcing Zero Trust far beyond the perimeter

The Zero Trust model, which assumes no implicit trust and requires continuous verification, becomes significantly more complex in orbit. Space systems like satellites and robotic explorers operate with minimal human oversight, often in mixed-trust environments where different personnel, partners, and systems converge. Specific federal mandates for Zero Trust include:

• Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (Exec. Order No. 14028, 86 Fed. Reg. 26633 (2021);  MM-22-09): issued in response to growing cyber threats—particularly high-profile incidents like the SolarWinds breach. It sets a government-wide directive to strengthen cybersecurity practices. 
• CISA Zero Trust Model: a strategic framework developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to help federal agencies implement Zero Trust principles by providing a roadmap across five key pillars—identity, devices, networks, applications, and data—at varying levels of maturity.
• NIST 800-171: NIST 800-171: A cybersecurity framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology that outlines security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems and organizations.
• NASA’s Zero Trust Strategy: defines the agency’s approach to implementing Zero Trust Architecture by segmenting resources, strengthening identity controls, and continuously verifying trust across all users, devices, and network interactions.

Insider threats — intentional or accidental — and potential cyber intrusions can’t be mitigated by simply “pulling the plug” or patching overnight. Systems must be hardened in advance, with granular access policies and robust anomaly detection to flag suspicious behavior even in isolation. Considering the sensitive nature of US-specific systems aboard multi-national crewed  missions, the insider threat takes on an additional level of national security-related interest.

Limited compute and cryptographic capacity

Space borne platforms are inherently resource-constrained. Power, compute, and memory are at a premium. That makes traditional, compute-heavy ICAM approaches like multi-factor authentication or public key infrastructure (PKI) impractical in many cases.

The authentication mechanisms used must be lightweight, efficient, and resilient — enabling secure operations without taxing limited onboard resources. Every cryptographic operation must be optimized for performance and survivability.

Secure access for mixed human and non-human actors

Unlike terrestrial environments, where access is mostly granted to human users, space systems must manage access for a mix of astronauts, AI copilots, autonomous navigation systems, and robotic agents. Access control must span not just individuals but machines — ensuring that each one has only the permissions needed for mission execution, and nothing more.

This calls for finely-tuned role-based or attribute-based access control that can operate independently when cut off from centralized enforcement.

Modern approaches to ICAM in DDIL space missions

To meet the demands of DDIL environments, ICAM strategies must move beyond traditional architectures. Emerging approaches are focused on enabling autonomy, reducing reliance on constant connectivity, and building trust mechanisms that can operate independently in space. NASA’s most recent Zero Trust Audit has even more details on this.

Localized, decentralized identity systems

A decentralized identity approach allows devices to self-verify instead of requiring Earth-based verification for each authentication attempt. Technologies like Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and blockchain-based ICAM can maintain distributed ledgers locally, synchronizing with ground control only when connectivity allows.

This model enables autonomous agents and spacecraft to operate securely during communication blackouts.

Cryptography built for the edge of space

Lightweight cryptographic algorithms are essential for constrained systems. Protocols like LEA (Lightweight Encryption Algorithm) and SPECK/SIMON were originally designed for embedded systems and can help secure communications without overloading hardware.

In some scenarios, post-quantum cryptographic algorithms are already being evaluated to future-proof space systems against emerging threats, especially in the context of national defense operations.

Delay-tolerant security models

Space-based missions require authentication mechanisms that don’t assume continuous access to identity infrastructure. Pre-issued credentials, time-bound certificates, and cached authentication tokens allow systems to remain secure while “offline.”

This approach enables autonomous execution of critical tasks even when connectivity to Earth is disrupted or intentionally disabled during sensitive operations.

AI-powered anomaly detection and policy enforcement

Machine learning models are being applied to predict expected behaviors and flag deviations in real-time. When onboard AI systems can adapt access policies on the fly based on mission context and behavioral data, they add a vital layer of defense to otherwise isolated systems.

For instance, an AI system aboard a satellite could detect anomalous access attempts from a robotic system and deny access until verification can be re-established with mission control.

Hardware-anchored trust and autonomous Zero Trust

Implementing zero trust in space means validating the integrity of systems continuously and independently. Hardware-based roots of trust, such as secure boot sequences and Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs), establish the baseline for authentication even if software systems are compromised.

By combining hardware trust with autonomous Zero Trust principles, space systems can protect themselves without requiring ground control to act as the gatekeeper.

Use cases for space-ready ICAM

The need for adaptive, resilient ICAM becomes especially clear when looking at real-world and near-future missions. These use cases show how identity and access controls must evolve to support both human and machine actors in highly isolated environments.

1. Autonomous missions beyond Earth’s orbit

Rovers on Mars and satellites orbiting other planets must operate independently for extended periods. These missions depend on local authentication, secure boot mechanisms, and the ability to self-verify that access to key systems is legitimate.

Without these capabilities, even minor anomalies could cascade into mission-ending events.

1. Crew coordination on orbital platforms and lunar bases

As human operations expand to include lunar bases and long-duration ISS missions, ICAM systems must support secure, real-time access for humans, robots, and AI assistants. Emergencies could demand immediate isolation of compromised systems — without waiting for Earth to approve a policy update.

This means ICAM must be both automated and flexible, capable of adapting to dynamic scenarios without manual intervention.

1. National security and cyber defense in orbit

Military satellites and classified payloads must remain protected against sophisticated adversaries. Multi-domain operations involving space, cyber, and terrestrial forces require trusted access control that travels with the asset.

Whether it’s authenticating a drone relay in a denied environment or securing telemetry from a space-based sensor, ICAM is the invisible infrastructure making sure only the right actors are involved.

The future of ICAM in space and on Earth

As the mission tempo for space-based operations increases, so does the importance of resilient, distributed identity and access control. The demands of DDIL environments expose the limits of traditional ICAM — and push innovation into areas like decentralized identity, lightweight cryptography, and autonomous trust enforcement.

Space is the ultimate DDIL environment. That makes it the ultimate proving ground for the next generation of identity architectures. Watch this webinar to learn more about Securing DDIL Environments.