New Work Group formed for trusted space-based systems

Operators facing increasing demands for secure, reliable satellite systems can now benefit from guidance that helps build verifiable trust into their technologies, thanks to the Trusted Computing Group (TCG)’s new Aerospace and Non-Terrestrial Systems Solutions Working Group (AERO-SWG).

Focusing on satellite networks, unmanned systems, autonomous platforms, and disconnected edge environments, AERO-SWG will help operators apply trusted computing principles to strengthen the resilience and integrity of the systems now central to global communications and critical infrastructure.

“AERO-SWG gives the industry a dedicated forum to ensure trusted computing in the toughest aerospace environments, including satellites and autonomous systems,” said TCG President Joe Pennisi. “By bringing experts together to focus on practical needs and real deployment barriers, the group will help accelerate the development of secure and interoperable technologies in this crucial sector.”

Establishing trust across non-terrestrial systems has never been more important. 2025 saw a record 4,434 satellites launched into orbit, a 65% increase on the previous year, highlighting how rapidly space-based systems have become integral to modern connectivity.

As these systems grow in scale, complexity, and importance, AERO-SWG will establish trust within the devices, platforms, gateways, and supply chains that underpin the global communications, defense, transportation, and critical infrastructure society now relies upon. This will be achieved through practical guidance, gap analysis, and recommendations to existing TCG Work Groups.

The group will be chaired by TCG member Thorsten Stremlau (NVIDIA). Stremlau has become a recognized voice in satellite security through his work with TCG, having spoken on emerging threats and trust requirements for systems at major industry events such as SATShow, CyberSat, and the GSOA webinar series.

“We want to bring together industry leaders and technical experts to best identify high-value use cases and new deployment challenges,” said AERO-SWG Chair Thorsten Stremlau. “We will also identify opportunities for applying TCG technologies to deliver stronger device identities, attestation capabilities, platform integrity, cyber resilience, and lifecycle trust to operators.”

AERO-SWG will explore how layered hardware and firmware security can be applied across aircraft, satellites and ground stations to strengthen trust at the platform level. This includes Trusted Platform Module (TPM)-based Roots-of-Trust for flight-critical software, Device Identifier Composition Engine (DICE) for lightweight subsystem protection, and CyRes for restoring corrupted firmware in flight or in orbit.

Reference Integrity Manifest (RIM) and Platform Requirements for Certificates and RIMS (PRCR) attestations and authenticated platform certificates further help verify component provenance and ensure only trusted tools and consoles can interface with operational systems. Together, these approaches support clearer trust boundaries across operator domains and more resilient aerospace platforms.

TCG is currently inviting industry experts to contribute to AERO-SWG. For more information on becoming a member and participating in the group, visit the TCG website.