In this episode, host Timothy De Block sits down with Tim Fowler, the creator of Tempest, a hands-on educational project focused on space cybersecurity. Tim shares the story behind the development of Tempest, a 1U CubeSat designed for teaching and exploring cybersecurity in space systems. With insights from his background in space cyber, Tim explains how Tempest offers a unique, vulnerable, and modular platform for learning, hacking, and improving space security.

• What is Tempest?
  Tim introduces Tempest, a one-unit CubeSat built for educational purposes, focusing on the cybersecurity aspects of space systems. He explains how CubeSats are small satellites with low cost and accessibility but often lack a focus on security.

• Design and Development of Tempest
  Tim talks about his 18-month journey developing Tempest, a project that started as an educational tool for his class on space cybersecurity. The CubeSat is intentionally vulnerable, offering students a chance to explore hacking and security concepts in space systems.

• Tempest as a Teaching Aid
  Tempest is designed to be hands-on, giving students real-world exposure to the challenges and opportunities in securing space systems. The first version of Tempest debuted at Wild West HackingFest, and Tim discusses how he plans to scale and release the hardware for public use.

• Challenges and Learning Through Failure
  Tim shares some humorous and insightful moments from teaching with Tempest, including a broadcast storm in the classroom caused by satellites "talking" to each other. He reflects on the importance of troubleshooting and learning through failure, both as a developer and instructor.

• Upcoming Plans for Tempest
  Tim outlines his goals for 2025, including releasing Tempest hardware for public consumption and expanding the educational content around space cybersecurity. He also hints at adding AI capabilities to the CubeSat for future applications like missile detection or weather observation.

Tim Fowler is a space cybersecurity expert and creator of Tempest, a unique educational tool designed to teach security in space systems. With years of experience in both the defense and cybersecurity sectors, Tim is passionate about making space systems more secure and accessible for hands-on learning.

• Ethos Labs - Tempest and other space cybersecurity resources

• Anti-Cyphon Training - Training courses and workshops by Tim Fowler

• Wild West HackingFest - Upcoming workshops featuring Tempest

• LinkedIn - Connect with Tim Fowler for more updates

Leave a comment below or reach out via the contact form on the site, email timothy.deblock[@]exploresec[.]com, or reach out on LinkedIn.

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