The Spacecraft Hacker's Handbook: Exploiting Ground Stations, Flight Software, and Satellite Terminals

By Milenko Starcik and Andrzej Olchawa

Satellites power our internet, GPS, weather forecasts, defense systems--and they're all at risk.

Can you really hack a spacecraft? Yes, but probably not the way you think.

Satellites rarely fall out of the sky, and this book won't tell you how to make them crash. But vulnerabilities can expose sensitive data, disrupt communications, manipulate onboard systems, and even allow attackers to take control of mission operations.

The Spacecraft Hacker's Handbook takes you inside the hidden world of spacecraft cybersecurity. Through hands-on labs, you'll write working exploits and uncover vulnerabilities in flight software. From NASA flight software and CCSDS protocols to SATCOM terminals and GNSS attacks, you'll gain practical experience with the technologies that power modern space missions.

Learn how to:
Work with mission control software, including Yamcs and OpenC3 COSMOSExplore NASA's F′ and core Flight System (cFS)Analyze CCSDS spacecraft communicationsReproduce actual space cyberattacks in a safe environmentDiscover, validate, and responsibly disclose new vulnerabilities
Whether you're a security researcher, aerospace engineer, student, or simply fascinated by the systems orbiting overhead, you'll gain the practical skills to understand, evaluate, and improve the security of modern spacecraft.

Requirements
Windows, macOS, or Linux Docker and a virtualization platform Basic ability to read source code in Python, Java, and C No specialized radio or satellite hardware required

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1718504748
• ISBN13: 9781718504745
• Release Date: November 2026
• Publisher: No Starch Press
• Length: 344 Pages