QUANTUM RESISTANT SYMMETRIC-BASED CRYPTOGRAPHIC DEVICE FOR TC/TM PROTECTION - EXPRO+

Objective:To implement, validate and test a cryptographic device for security protection of TC/TM.Description:Security protection of TC/TM utilizing cryptographic device capability shall be compliant with correspondingCCSDS standards, implementing SDLS (SpaceData Link Security protocol) and SDLS EP (ExtendedProcedures). It will also include the development of the corresponding Ground Segment Key Management module (unless the needed ground segment capability is already available through COTS or other developments). The implementation will be on hardware; software implementations (not part of this activity) can complement the development for smallsatellites with low assurance requirements or cubesats. The device will target the protection of TC and TM communication links.Theactivity will develop an engineering model, using a hardware based optimised implementations ofauthenticated encryption. Specifically, it will develop:- Engineering Model (EM): flight representative hardware in form, fit and function (including timing and interfaces), allowing functional qualification.- Unit tester / testbench (hardware) that allows to send data to the EM through any of its interfaces up to themaximum data rates supported by the EM (this includes encryption/decryption of data sent/received to the EM).Unit tester / testbench will also record data sent and received to the module.- Ground key management module (software) being ableto manage the cryptographic parameters and keys of the unit tester and EM.