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Abstract

In large satellite networks, particularly interplanetary networks, key management is currently an unsolved problem - pre-shared keys become infeasible due to the large number of nodes in the network, and PKI is made more difficult due to the long distances and intermittent connectivity between nodes.

Recent work within our group has made use of a network simulator to test the suitability of terrestrial PKI to large-scale satellite systems, finding that it can be used with a small number of modifications. This project will seek to extend this work by implementing additional assessment criteria to the network simulator. Current simulations focus on connection establishment time and the time taken for revocation messages to cover the entire network - this will be extended to add storage and network load measurement capabilities to the simulator, showing that it is possible to use protocols that are not only faster but also require less space and network load.

Prerequisites This project will require experience with network protocols, key management, and a good grasp of Python.

Useful URLs https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.10963v3