Talk of "attacking a satellite" usually refers to one of four segments. Each has its own vulnerabilities — and the satellite itself is often the hardest place to attack.
| Segment | What | Vulnerable to |
|---|---|---|
| Space segment | The satellite(s) in orbit | Kinetic ASAT, co-orbital attack, laser, nuclear detonation in space |
| Ground segment | Control centres, ground stations, launch sites | Conventional attack, sabotage, cyber |
| Link segment | The radio links: control (TT&C), uplink, downlink, links between satellites | Jamming, spoofing, interception |
| User segment | Terminals, GPS receivers, image processing | Local interference, cyber, physical attack |
Most of the interference seen in practice hits the link and user segments: a GPS jammer near the front line or a jammer against satellite terminals. That is cheap, reversible and leaves no space debris. The electromagnetic side of this is covered in the EW Academy (§ 21).
Note
An attack on the ground segment or the users is often more effective than on the satellite itself. The cyber attack on the Viasat network on 24 February 2022 hit tens of thousands of terminals on the ground — the satellite was unharmed (see 9.3).