Hackers Force Shutdown Of Two Key Astronomical Observatories
Arthur T Knackerbracket writes:
Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
The International Gemini Observatory, a key player in global astronomical research, has temporarily halted astronomical operations following a cyberattack. The culprits and their motives remain unknown.
The computer hack, which took place on the morning of August 1, led to the suspension of the Gemini North and South Telescopes, as detailed in an August 24 statement from the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab). While the North telescope is situated in Hawaii, its southern counterpart is located on Cerro Pachon, Chili, with a few other smaller telescopes located in Cerro Tololo, also in Chile. Observatories stationed on Arizona's Kitt Peak, however, remain unaffected by the intrusion, according to NOIRLab.
[...] Like the entire astronomy community, we are disappointed that some of our telescopes are not currently observing. Fortunately, we have been able to keep some telescopes online and collect data with in-person workarounds," NOIRLab stated in its release. We are grateful for the support of the astronomy community during this difficult time and we thank everyone for their patience as our teams continue to work towards restoring normal operations."
[...] For the time being, Gemini North has been securely positioned in its zenith-pointing orientation. NOIRLab credits the prompt actions of its security team for preventing any damage to the observatory. As to who is responsible for the hacks, or their motivations, that remains either unknown or undisclosed. NOIRLab has been tight-lipped about the incident, claiming that it is limited" in what it can share about its cybersecurity controls and investigatory findings."
The nature of the hacks is not known, but as Space.com points out, the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) had previously alerted the public about such threats-and even the potential for espionage-in the space sector, emphasizing the critical importance of space assets to national security and economic strength.
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