Selective downlink data encryption system for satellites

A satellite system comprising:

• a first module in a satellite, wherein the first module is configured to receive first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators;
• avoid conflicts between information sent from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite;
• and decrypt commands in the first information;
• and
• a second module in the satellite, wherein the second module is configured to process the commands decrypted by the first module, generate a key for the particular operator from a portion of a block of information including a number of commands processed, encrypt a block of telemetry using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information, and transmit the block of encrypted information.

A method for transmitting information, the method comprising:

• receiving in an uplink at a satellite first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators;
• processing commands received in the first information while avoiding conflicts between information sent from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite;
• identifying a block of information resulting from processing the commands received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite;
• generating a key for the particular operator from a portion of the block of information resulting from processing the commands received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite based on instructions received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite;
• encrypting the block of information using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information;
• and
• transmitting the block of encrypted information from the satellite in a downlink.