Although the 1996 National Space Policy directed that steps be taken to protect satellites from cyber-attacks, commercial satellite operators have generally not seen a need to do this, due to the high cost and the lack of demand from customers for protective measures. Hence, U.S. commercial satellites are vulnerable to cyber-attack, and "the political, economic, and military value of space systems makes them attractive targets." The growing interdependence between U.S. civilian and military space systems further increases the likelihood that cyber-attacks might be launched against American commercial satellites, if for no other reason than military action directed against U.S. space capabilities will have to target the nation's broader space infrastructure to be successful. In addition, to potential foreign adversaries seeking to avoid a direct military confrontation with the U.S. forces, whether a traditional uniformed military or "non-traditional" adversary (such as a terrorist organization), the commercial sector represents the "soft underbelly" of American space power, which can be attacked through cyberspace in such a way as to make determining the origin of the attack very difficult.

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Petras, Christopher M. "The Use of Force in Response to Cyber-Attack on Commercial Space Systems." Journal of Air Law and Commerce. Vol. 67, No. 4 (Fall 2002): 1213-1268. [ 1 reference ]