Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Focus on the security and resilience of space systems in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Exploration of cyber-physical integration and critical infrastructure dependencies
- Emphasis on high-consequence domains such as autonomous transportation, smart energy grids, and space medicine
- Discussion of emerging threats, adversarial AI, and policy frameworks
- Invitation for original research submissions addressing space system vulnerabilities and solutions
The IEEE RISC 2026 Call for Papers highlights the evolving role of space technologies as active drivers of industrial transformation. No longer limited to passive infrastructure, space systems now underpin critical operations across multiple sectors, shaping the future of connectivity, automation, and resilience.
Space Systems as Critical Infrastructure
Space systems have become deeply embedded within essential cyber-physical ecosystems. They enable autonomous transportation, smart energy grids, water treatment, disaster response, global communications, defense operations, and deep-space exploration. The integration of these systems means that their security and resilience are now fundamental to societal continuity.
With the rapid involvement of commercial entities and broader access to space, the pace of transformation is accelerating. This shift brings both opportunities and new challenges, particularly as space systems become more intertwined with terrestrial infrastructure.
Unique Security Challenges in Space
The operational environment of space introduces distinct security concerns. Space systems rely on complex, long-lifecycle hardware and software, making them susceptible to supply chain manipulation, network intrusions, adversarial AI, electronic warfare, and nation-state threats. As these systems connect with critical infrastructure on Earth and in orbit, the attack surface expands, often beyond the reach of traditional security frameworks.
Ensuring the resilience of these interconnected systems is essential. The conference seeks research that addresses vulnerabilities and proposes robust solutions for safeguarding space assets and their terrestrial counterparts.
Research Themes and Topics
IEEE RISC 2026 welcomes original submissions on a wide range of topics. Areas of interest include the security and resilience of satellite constellations, orbital infrastructure, and ground control systems. The event also covers secure telemetry, trustworthy autonomy, AI/ML security, and supply chain assurance for space systems.
Additional themes include post-quantum cryptography, anti-interference measures, secure software-defined networking, and the integration of space systems with terrestrial IIoT and critical infrastructure. The conference places special emphasis on high-consequence domains such as space medicine, deep-space exploration, and disaster response, where security failures can have severe impacts.
Emerging Topics: Resilient Space Medicine
As missions move toward greater independence from Earth, the resilience of onboard medical and biological systems becomes increasingly important. The event encourages submissions on autonomous medical architectures, security of the Internet of Medical Things, radiation-resilient computing, self-driving labs, explainable AI for clinical autonomy, and cyber-biosecurity.
IEEE RISC 2026 serves as a premier venue for advancing research on the security and resilience of space systems, fostering collaboration and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.