Communications Security
Encryption and Authentication System
The Encryption and Authentication System comprises radiation-hardened cryptographic processors and tamper-resistant hardware security modules providing AES-256 encryption, integrity verification, and authentication across Earth and local links. Operating at throughputs of at least 10 Mbps with latency overhead under 5 ms, the subsystem prevents hostile command injection and data tampering over a 100-year operational lifespan. Engineering cryptographic reliability is complicated by radiation degradation of microelectronics and recurring 14-day lunar night communication blackouts, which require autonomous key rollover using at least 1,000 onboard storage slots. To maintain security against evolving computational threats across a century, post-quantum key exchange algorithms must be securely and remotely upgradeable over the Earth link.
Provides encryption, authentication, and integrity verification for all Ark communications, preventing unauthorized command injection and data interception.
Purpose
Protect the Ark from hostile command injection, eavesdropping, and data tampering across Earth and local communication links.
Context
As a century-long autonomous asset, the Ark must withstand evolving cyber threats; cryptographic algorithms must be upgradeable and key management must be autonomous when Earth contact is lost.
Principles
- ▸Defense-in-depth with encryption, authentication, and integrity checks
- ▸Crypto-agility to update algorithms over 100-year lifetime
- ▸Autonomous key management during communication blackouts
- ▸Hardware security modules for key storage
Typical implementations
- ▸AES-256 symmetric encryption for data links
- ▸Post-quantum key exchange algorithms
- ▸Hardware security modules (HSMs) with tamper detection
- ▸CCSDS Space Data Link Security protocol
Lunar considerations
- ▸Must handle key rollover autonomously during 14-day lunar night
- ▸Radiation effects on cryptographic hardware
- ▸Algorithm updates must be delivered securely over Earth link
- ▸100-year timeline requires quantum-resistant cryptography
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Encrypt, decrypt, authenticate, and verify integrity of all communication data streams |
| inputs | plaintext data from subsystems, encrypted data from Earth/mesh links, cryptographic keys |
| outputs | encrypted data for transmission, decrypted/verified data for subsystems, authentication status |
| encryption throughput mbps | >=10 |
| latency overhead ms | <=5 |
| key storage slots | >=1000 |
Physical
| materials | radiation-hardened cryptographic processors, tamper-resistant HSM packaging |
| vacuum | True |
| radiation | lunar surface GCR |
Operational
| thermal range c | -173, 127 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Encrypted and authenticated Earth link data
- Node authentication and encrypted mesh traffic
Requires
- Secure delivery of algorithm and key updates
- Accurate timestamps for replay attack prevention
- Power for cryptographic processors and HSMs
Decomposes into
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Communications Security" (L2-COM-CRYPT). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L2-COM-CRYPT
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.