Reconfigurable cryptographic subsystem for Cubesats

Data security and confidentiality are of significant importance and have become a necessity for satellite systems. One of the most common and popular methods to achieve this is by the use of cryptography. While cryptographic methods are more commonly used on large satellite platforms, their use in Cubesats is scarce as Cubesats are small satellites with restricted dimensions and power consumptions. Implementation of Cryptographic algorithms for such devices, may require reconfigurable technology which can regulate to accommodate such needs with low aggravation and least human intervention and at the same time provide redundancy in the built subsystem. This paper deliberates and describes the implementation of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) on a custom in-house developed adapter board crammed with an off-the-shelf FPGA board, to form a subsystem which complies with the Cubesat standards. The developed subsystem conforms to the 10x10x10cm dimensional restrictions; the connectors follow the standard Cubesat protocols for subsystem control and communication complying with the low power consumptions of about 0.333W with a throughput of about 3.2GB/second of data encryption.