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PQC for Ground-to-Satellite Command and Control Links

Applying FIPS 203/204/205 to ground station command links, TT&C, and satellite communications protocols.

Full day (6 hours)

Certificate on completion

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Course Overview

For satellite systems engineers and ground segment architects. Covers PQC migration for TC/TM protocols within the CCSDS SDLS framework, radiation-hardened processor PQC benchmarks (LEON, RAD750, ARM Cortex-R), on-orbit key management for 15-25 year missions, and cross-support interoperability.

Curriculum

Course content is structured into sessions below. Each session is configurable to your organisation's environment, threat model, and objectives.

#	Session	Topics
1	Satellite Command Link Cryptographic Architecture How TC/TM protocols depend on classical cryptography today
2	CCSDS SDLS Protocol Stack and PQC Integration Where ML-KEM and ML-DSA fit in the space data link security framework	CCSDS 355.0-B-2 SDLS frame structure: authentication, encryption, and the key management gap TC uplink command authentication: replacing ECDSA with ML-DSA (FIPS 204) for command integrity TM downlink encryption: AES-256 bulk encryption retention versus PQC key encapsulation with ML-KEM (FIPS 203)
Break
3	Radiation-Hardened Processor PQC Performance Benchmarks and constraints for space-qualified compute platforms	LEON3/4 (GR740), RAD750, ARM Cortex-R5 rad-hard variants: ML-KEM and ML-DSA performance benchmarks Memory footprint constraints: ML-KEM-768 key sizes (1,184 bytes public key) versus ECDH on constrained OBCs FPGA-based PQC acceleration: Microsemi RTG4, Xilinx XQRKU060 for lattice-based operations in flight hardware
4	Interactive Demonstration: SDLS PQC Migration Analysis Full-day format only	Modelling ML-KEM key exchange overhead on a reference LEO mission TC/TM link budget Bandwidth impact analysis: PQC ciphertext expansion on CCSDS transfer frames at typical S-band and X-band data rates Comparing hybrid ECDH+ML-KEM versus pure ML-KEM approaches for backward compatibility with legacy ground stations
Break
5	On-Orbit Key Management and Crypto-Agility Managing cryptographic lifecycle across 15-25 year mission durations	Key pre-provisioning versus on-orbit key agreement: trade-offs for missions with no return link key exchange capability Crypto-agility design patterns: software-defined cryptographic modules for algorithm replacement without hardware change Mission phase transitions: launch, LEOP, nominal operations, end-of-life: different key management requirements at each stage
6	Cross-Support Interoperability and Standards Roadmap Multi-agency missions and the CCSDS PQC timeline	CCSDS SLE cross-support: how PQC migration affects interoperability between ESA, NASA, JAXA ground networks ESA ECSS-E-ST-50C alignment and the European Space Security Information Framework CCSDS PQC standardisation timeline: when updated SDLS and SLE specifications are expected
7	Q&A and Mission-Specific Planning

Designed and Delivered By

Training courses are designed and delivered by QSECDEF in collaboration with subject specialists. All instructors have direct experience in quantum technologies and security.

QSECDEF brings expertise in post-quantum cryptography, quantum computing strategy, and defence-grade security assessment. Our membership spans 900+ organisations and 1,500+ professionals working at the intersection of quantum technologies and critical infrastructure security.

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PQC for Ground-to-Satellite Command and Control Links

Course Overview

Curriculum

Designed and Delivered By

Quantum Security Defence

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