RDI network, as prime contractor, has been awarded an 18-month contract by the European Space Agency - European Space Operations Centre (ESA - ESOC) to implement and validate on a virtualised testbed the latest Bundle Protocol (version 7) and the Bundle Protocol Security specification as specified in the relevant standards, addressing also operational concerns and challenges. The project will also validate its use on two realistic proof of concept applications (Lunar and EO communications) and identify issues and recommendations that can be provided to the standardization workgroups.

RDI network will coordinate the overall project and collaborate with sub-contractors GTD Sistemas de Información and Fundació Privada 2CAT. As part of the contracted activities, RDI network wil provide a continuous feedback and recommendations to ESA on the CCSDS standards BP and the security specification, besides other cybersecurity aspects not addressed by the standards but that wil lead to a more secure solution for ESA.

The CCSDS Bundle Protocol Specification is a key component to realize next generation Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) store-and-forward capabilities in space networks and ti is part of the protocol stack foreseen for next generation exploration missions of ESA.

Securing a DTN requires to consider network physical properties, multiple topologies, policies at each node, and various security requirements. There are numerous challenges associated to the Bundle Protocol, such as the node authentication, anti-replay mechanisms, key management, context, service and policy management and overall monitoring and control in a distributed network of nodes scenario, integrity checks across waypoints, protocol data overheads and associated trade- offs, etc.
TRDI network focus is the resilience of systems and communications and this contract strengthen our position as a cybersecurity company with the mission of supporting its customers in their journey through the new space economy, witnessing the convergence of space, internet and security.

The activities carried out in this contract are under a programme of, and funded by, the ESA. The view expressed in this publication can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the ESA.