01Definition
The user segment is the set of devices and users that consume the service a space system provides, such as receivers and terminals.
The user segment is where the value of a space mission is delivered, and it can also be an entry point for attack. It is the fourth segment alongside the space, ground, and link segments.
02Related terms
- Space segment: The space segment is the part of a space system that is in orbit: the satellites and spacecraft themselves.
- Ground segment: The ground segment is the part of a space system on Earth: the ground stations, networks, and control systems that command satellites and receive their data.
- Link segment: The link segment is the set of communication links that connect the ground and the space segments of a space system.
03Learn more
See space cybersecurity, operations and resilience for how these terms fit together, or browse the full glossary.