Op-ed: So, can hackers take over a satellite?

SSG Robert Mark Odom 21 Years with the Naval Security Group tells me Yep. They used to Have Crypto Systems Onboard the Satellites I worked with.

The thing about satellites is that most of them are hacked regularly... by the government. Everything in orbit launched by NASA - and you can bet by other space agencies in Japan, Europe and Russia - have a little something on board so that NSA and whatever other agency needs to can listen in or more.
If we can do it, you best believe that others can.

There's a possibility.