Crypto, satellites, & China
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- A story in the 3/14/94 issue of _Aviation Week_ reports that Hughes and Martin Marietta have satisfied the State Department and will now be able to launch the Optus B3 comsat. All the quotes below are from the article; it didn't have any detail on the cryptostuff. State had held up the launch because the Optus B3 payload included a "sensitive decryption chip". The USG made trade with China subject to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) after China was suspected of selling missiles to Pakistan. Hughes agreed to remove the chip, which "guards the satellite's steering commands"; once removed, State lifted the export restriction. "By removing the chip, authority for approving the launch was shifted to the Commerce Dept. from an interagency review commission headed by the State Dept. that had far less leeway to act." I never knew that encryption fell under MTCR in addition to ITAR. Presumably any crypto hardware or software which can be used to protect missile or satellite telemetry or commanding can be restricted. If anyone has more details on the MTCR and its application, I'd love to hear it. - -Paul Robichaux - -- Paul Robichaux, KD4JZG | Out the 10Base-T port, through the router, perobich@ingr.com | over the leased line, off the bridge, past Intergraph Federal Systems | the firewall... nothing but net. Of course I don't speak for Intergraph. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a iQCVAgUBLamroCA78To+806NAQEK0wP/SD8692ZaMl71c57dSKAG7vmYVcyvIJi5 CNuWb4u3kL7WlfEtzrZ42Dfx4avgyzcjyoIyBDE5r+7n/nSMnbBGZGYR2OyTBQ5b GaK8RrrdJQoKujEvzR8i+XhtBin2doK5hzBHTY2VpYIexMH34MLZeYNST4nA7ek9 5EGWhbZ5mxw= =avDx -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
paul@poboy.b17c.ingr.com (Paul Robichaux) writes:
I never knew that encryption fell under MTCR in addition to ITAR. Presumably any crypto hardware or software which can be used to protect missile or satellite telemetry or commanding can be restricted.
It's my understanding that, according to international missile treaties (probably the MTCR), missile telemetry data must be transmitted in the clear. This is ostensibly so that the various world powers can be assured that a "test" missile launch really is a test and is not going to wipe out someone's capital. It's also so that various intelligence agencies can have accurate estimates of everyone's capabilities. This knowledge is widely viewed as stabilising.
It's my understanding that, according to international missile treaties (probably the MTCR), missile telemetry data must be transmitted in the clear. This is ostensibly so that the various world powers can be assured that a "test" missile launch really is a test and is not going to wipe out someone's capital. It's also so that various intelligence agencies can have accurate estimates of everyone's capabilities. This knowledge is widely viewed as stabilising.
No, I think the MTCR is like ITAR: it restricts who may export what. The MTCR is the rationale behind why we don't export rocket engines to countries like Pakistan who are believed to be developing IRBMs. Of course, some dual-use technology probably slips through, just as it has with ITAR and COCOM. All of the strategic arms reduction treaties include a provision for telemetry monitoring, but I didn't think "ordinary" satellite launches were covered. Especially in the case of commanding; you really don't want J. Random Hacker to reorient the attitude or orbit of your comsat. -Paul -- Paul Robichaux, KD4JZG | Out the 10Base-T port, through the router, perobich@ingr.com | over the leased line, off the bridge, past Intergraph Federal Systems | the firewall... nothing but net. Of course I don't speak for Intergraph.
participants (2)
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Lyle_Seaman＠transarc.com -
paul＠poboy.b17c.ingr.com