When we hear the phrase “space pirates,” we immediately think of sci-fi movies or books. Just a short time ago we thought that space piracy was nothing more than a product of the imagination of screenwriters and writers, but in the 21st century they have become a harsh reality. It’s worth noting that real space pirates won’t be like the ones we see in Hollywood blockbusters with spaceship races driven by alien beings. Instead, their activities will begin with orbital cyberattacks carried out by ordinary people sitting at computers on Earth.
Space crime in the 21st century
Experts already warn: with the increasing number of satellites and their cost, the issue of space crime is only a matter of time. For example, pirates can steal satellite networks to extort money, block satellites, or threaten to disrupt global broadcasts like the World Cup.
That’s according to a study by the Center for Space Crime Studies, founded by financier Marc Feldman and cyber specialist Hugh Taylor. In their book Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit, the authors link the threat to the commercialization of space. Feldman points out the risks of blackmail via satellites, and Taylor adds: criminals can attack not only orbiting vehicles, but also ground-based facilities such as spaceports or control stations.
The military is also getting involved in the problem. Since 2020, the Pentagon has been holding the Hack-A-Sat competition, where hackers try to break into space systems. In 2023, the Italian team gained access to a real lunar lander for the first time, earning 50,000 dollars on the hack. Such initiatives help to identify weaknesses in the defense, because there is no experience in fighting space criminals in the world yet, and it is necessary to prepare for their attacks urgently, in order not to miss the time.
National security at risk
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows how effective satellites have become as a weapon. On the first day of the war, the Russians attacked Viasat, disrupting satellite communications. And Elon Musk, who gave Ukraine access to Starlink, then restricted it for military use, demonstrating the vulnerability of the technology. These are just examples of how private companies and governments are being targeted.
The space age has brought not only progress, but also new challenges that humanity has not faced before. If pirates now hunt ships off the coast of Somalia, they can choose to target satellites without leaving their own home.
Experts insist: the world needs international agreements and technological solutions to protect space. After all, modern pirates don’t wear an eye patch — they can destroy the infrastructure of entire countries with a few clicks. Will we succeed in preventing disaster before it becomes a reality?
Earlier we reported on how the US launched a mission to hunt enemy satellites.
According to space.com
