Trump administration pushes for cybersecurity measures to protect satellites

Details: The new policy directive loosely defines best practices when it comes to cybersecurity and the space industry.

• The directive also outlines a plan for the U.S. government to work with companies to help adopt those best practices and create norms around cybersecurity.
• The policy suggests space-based assets should make use of encryption when sending commands to satellites and when satellites are sending information to Earth and make efforts to protect satellites from tampering, jamming and spoofing.
• "We're not trying to impose new government-driven, top-down requirements and standards, but are in fact trying to work with and leverage the private sector," a senior administration official speaking on background said.

Yes, but: Many companies have already instituted their own protocols for cybersecurity and their assets in space, so it's not yet clear exactly what this directive will change.

• The White House also has yet to lay out an enforcement mechanism for those companies that ignore the best practices.