Some of the world’s most advanced telescopes have been hit by cyberattacks that temporarily shut down their operations and website. The Gemini North and South telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, as well as other smaller telescopes in Chile, were affected by the incident that occurred on August 1, 2023.
Gemini telescopes suspended after cybersecurity breach
The Gemini Observatory is an international collaboration that operates two identical 8.1-meter telescopes, one in each hemisphere, that together can access almost the entire sky. The Gemini telescopes have been instrumental in making groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy, such as observing the closest-known black hole to Earth and capturing the birth of supernovae.
However, on August 1, 2023, a cybersecurity incident disrupted the operations of both the Gemini North and South telescopes, as well as their website and email services. The National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), which manages the Gemini Observatory, issued a statement on August 24, 2023, confirming the cyberattack and announcing the temporary suspension of the telescopes.
“Our staff are working with cybersecurity experts to get all the impacted telescopes and our website back online as soon as possible and are encouraged by the progress made thus far,” NOIRLab wrote in the statement.
The nature and origin of the cyberattack are still unclear, and NOIRLab said it will be cautious about what information it shares while the investigation is ongoing. The shutdown has been disruptive to scientists who rely on the telescopes for their research projects.
Cybersecurity threats to space industry and research
The cyberattack on the Gemini Observatory is not an isolated incident. In October 2022, hackers also targeted another leading astronomical observatory in Chile: the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), which is composed of 66 radio antennas that can observe the universe in unprecedented detail. The hackers took down ALMA’s website and suspended all observations for several days.
NASA has also been a victim of cyberattacks for years. In 2021, the agency was affected by the worldwide SolarWinds breach that compromised its networks and systems. NASA leadership called it a “big wakeup call” for cybersecurity.
The space industry and research are increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats from foreign spies and hackers who seek to steal valuable technologies and expertise, or to sabotage critical infrastructure that depends on space-based assets. The US National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) issued a bulletin on August 4, 2023, warning about these risks and advising space companies and organizations to enhance their security measures.
“Foreign spies and hackers recognize the importance of the commercial space industry to the US economy and national security, including the growing dependence of critical infrastructure on space-based assets,” the bulletin read. “They see US space-related innovation and assets as potential threats as well as valuable opportunities to acquire vital technologies and expertise.”
Implications for astronomical research and community
The cyberattacks on the Gemini Observatory and ALMA have raised concerns about the security and resilience of astronomical facilities and data. These observatories are essential for advancing scientific knowledge and understanding of the cosmos, as well as for inspiring public interest and education in astronomy.
The astronomical community has expressed solidarity and support for the staff of the affected observatories who are working hard to restore their operations. They have also called for more collaboration and coordination among different observatories and institutions to prevent future cyberattacks and to mitigate their impacts.
The Gemini Observatory said it plans to provide more information to the community when it is able to do so. It also thanked its users for their patience and understanding during this challenging time.
“We appreciate your continued support as we work through this incident,” NOIRLab said in its statement.