Satellite command management platform: 95% increase in cybercrime prevention

Innowise created a blockchain-based system to send commands to satellites.

Customer

Industry

Cybersecurity

Region

Client since

2023

Our client is a software development company that specializes in building advanced software solutions that cybersecure space assets and its operations.

Detailed information about the client cannot be disclosed under the terms of the NDA.

Challenge

Securing satellite command transmission with blockchain-based validation

Our client’s software is designed to support aerospace companies in managing satellite operations. Given the critical nature of these operations, it’s vital to obtain approval from multiple stakeholders before issuing any commands to a satellite. To address this, the client’s solution requires all satellite-bound commands to undergo a voting process. However, the client faced challenges in ensuring the security and accuracy of commands transmitted to and from satellites. The primary concern was the risk of data tampering during transmission, which could lead to erroneous or conflicting instructions. Additionally, there was a need to simplify interactions with the satellite system on Earth.

Other problems included the risk of overlapping commands and the possibility of sending incorrect commands due to a weak validation process. The client wanted us to develop a solution to streamline the management of satellite commands with the help of blockchain and smart contracts. This system would prevent command conflicts and offer the authenticity of the data.

Solution

Implementing a system using blockchain for secure satellite command validation

As a solution to these challenges, we have proposed to develop a cybersecurity platform for space assets to prevent cybercrime for satellites.

Web application structure

We delivered a web application with two main portals: the admin portal and the client portal. Each portal is designed to meet specific user needs within the satellite command management ecosystem. The admin portal is intended for system administrators to manage parachains. It includes features such as parachain management, allowing administrators to create and manage parachains for new clients, typically airspace company owners. The admin portal also offers user management for easy account addition, removal, and management. With real-time command monitoring, administrators can track activities and command transactions, keeping operations smooth and secure. Configuration settings allow customization of security and preferences, while comprehensive reporting tools provide valuable insights into command transactions for informed decision-making.

The client portal serves as the interface for parachain owners to manage their assets. It includes features like asset registration so that clients can easily add their assets to the parachain, integrating them into the network. Furthermore, clients can submit commands to their assets after passing the voting process, maintaining control and oversight.

This web application structure offers a robust and user-friendly platform for both administrators and clients, which improves satellite command management with greater security.

Multi-stage voting process

Our team developed a structured multi-stage voting process to ensure the integrity of satellite command validation.

The process begins with the proposal stage, where stakeholders create command proposals and submit them to the admin for initial review. During this stage, proposals are assessed for their validity and relevance. Following this, in the review stage, admins carefully evaluate the submitted proposals, verify their feasibility and alignment with operational goals. Moreover, Oracle-based smart contracts deployed to the blockchain are also working on proposal verification. Commands that pass this scrutiny move to the pending stage, where they await further action.

Once in the pending stage, the commands are prepared for the voting process. During the voting period, participants cast their votes for or against the commands. They have the option to change their votes within a specified timeframe. Transparency is maintained with real-time updates on the voting status, including the number of votes, approval percentages, and reasons for rejections. Additionally, participants who reject commands are required to provide justification.

Smart contracts then tally the votes in real-time. Commands that receive approval are scheduled for execution and sent to the satellite. Conversely, rejected commands are logged with the provided reasons for future reference.

Command validation via blockchain

Immutable command transactions

Innowise utilized blockchain technology in the satellite command management system to record each command transaction in an immutable, decentralized ledger. This tamper-proof record offers the integrity of command data, preventing any unauthorized modifications. Each transaction is timestamped and cryptographically secured, which preserves the command history’s integrity.

Smart contracts for validation

Smart contracts are pivotal in our solution to automate the validation process. These contracts contain the rules for command approval to make sure that only valid commands are executed. This minimizes human error and upholds high operational standards. Commands are represented in binary code (0 and 1), making them simple yet effective for validation.

Blockchain-based authorization

To elevate the security of the command validation and voting processes, we implemented a blockchain-based authorization system using Polkadot. Each participant is assigned a unique cryptographic key pair to sign transactions to guarantee that only authenticated users could propose, vote on, or execute commands.

Polkadot’s robust and scalable blockchain provides a secure, decentralized solution, eliminating single points of failure. The system records every action on the blockchain, creating an immutable audit trail for accountability and traceability. Additionally, Polkadot’s features, like cross-chain communication and on-chain governance, add flexibility for future enhancements.

Photo validation

To provide data integrity, we implemented a robust photo validation system for satellite images. This system uses hash tables stored in substrate nodes to verify the authenticity of photographs. Each satellite image generates a unique hash, stored securely in the blockchain. When a photo is received, its hash is recalculated and compared with the stored hash, detecting any discrepancies indicating tampering.

More so, metadata such as time, location, and conditions are cross-checked to confirm the photo’s authenticity. This dual-layer verification ensures that images are genuine and untampered.

Timeline feature

Our team of experts integrated a comprehensive timeline feature into the system to boost transparency and usability. This tool provides a real-time overview, showing the key stages: proposal, review, pending, voting, and execution. Each stage is visually distinct with icons and colors in a way that users quickly understand the current status.

The timeline displays the remaining time in each stage, with a countdown timer during the voting period to encourage timely participation. Progress bars and percentage indicators show the completion status that helps users gauge the voting direction. Detailed logs and timestamps record key actions, creating an audit trail for accountability.

Notifications and alerts keep participants informed about important milestones, such as the start and end of voting. The timeline is accessible from both admin and client portals, this way all stakeholders have a unified view of the process.

Technologies

Backend

NestJs, Kafka, Redis, MongoDb, Mongoose, IPFS, Polkadot API

Frontend

Polkadot.js, TypeScript, React, React-Router, React Hook Form, Webpack, Chakra UI, Zustand, Web3.js ESLint

Blockchain

Substrate, Polkadot, ink!, Rust, smart contracts

DevOps

AWS, Docker, Postman

Process

Our development process followed the Agile methodology, promoting continuous improvement through iterative progress.

Discovery phase

Innowise team started by gathering requirements and understanding the client's needs. This phase involved outlining the project scope and objectives to set clear expectations and define the overall direction. We documented everything in a vision and scope document.

Planning phase

Next, our experts created a detailed plan, breaking down tasks, setting timelines, and assessing risks. This helped us keep the project on track with clear milestones.

Development phase

In the development phase, we worked on the back-end and front-end components simultaneously, following two-week sprints. This iterative approach allowed us to integrate feedback and continuously make necessary adjustments.

QA phase

The client was responsible for QA processes.

Team

Project Coordinator

Front-end Engineers

Back-end Engineer

Blockchain Engineers

DevOps Engineer

Results

95% security boost with satellite command management system, enhancing fault tolerance and data integrity

The system implementation overhauled the security and efficiency of the client’s satellite command management.

Enhanced security: the risk of data tampering was reduced by 95%. The blockchain validation system ensures that all commands are authenticated and immutable, providing a robust defense against unauthorized modifications.

Fault tolerance: thanks to the use of blockchain, the system has become decentralized. Each added asset becomes a node in the ecosystem and is shared with others. All nodes work together to calculate the blockchain, while being independent units. Such a system minimizes the likelihood of loss of control over satellites and failure of the system as a whole.

Improved data integrity: the photo validation system guarantees that all images from the satellite are authentic and untampered, maintaining high data integrity.

Project duration

September 2023 - December 2023

95%

increase in cybercrime prevention

50%

reduction in approval time

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