Development of imitation-resistant authentication protocol for low-orbital space satellite communication system

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a tendency to expand the use of loworbit satellite communication systems (LOSCS). A special role belongs to the systems of remote monitoring, control and management of unattended objects of environmentally hazardous technologies. To ensure uninterrupted operation of the satellite communications system, a certain number of spacecrafts are combined into an orbital group. For a low-orbit CAS, the group consists of 48-60 satellites. However, due to the increase in the number of LOSCS, a situation may arise when a "foe" satellite gets in sight of a satellite communications receiver, which is located at the subscriber terminal of an unattended facility, attempts to impose a previously intercepted control command. This can lead to failure of the control object and provoke an environmental disaster. In order to prevent such a situation, it is necessary to increase the imitation resistance of the LOSCS. It is possible to solve this problem by using the identification of the Identification-Friend-orFoe system (IFF system) of a spacecraft. Obviously, the effectiveness of such a system is primarily determined by the authentication protocol. Therefore, the goal of the research is to improve the imitability of the LOSCS by a satellite identification system using the developed authentication protocol, built on evidence with zero disclosure zeroknowledge proof knowledge (ZKPK)