Inter(planetary) Internet

NASA have proved that they're definitely both geeks and rocket scientists by testing protocols for the first interplanetary internet. Before you start with your facebook status "I'm on top of the world!" gags, understand that this is serious business. Off-planet internet poses unique challenges which require design solutions.

The first is that space is big. We're planning a network so vast that the speed of light becomes a serious issue, and that alone makes this one of the most awesome things the species has ever imagined. Building an information system so vast we have to account for the universe's limited ability to transmit data. The human urge to not only explore but to share what we find has now become an engineering challenge, as well as our most admirable feature.

The solution is a new communications protocol. Instead of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) used on Earth, which depends on constant connection, the space network will use Disruption-or-Delay Tolerant Protocol (DCP) whereby data will be stored at each node until a secure connection can be established with another node, at which point the current caches are exchanged. Remember, this network won't have to just deal with bandwidth bottlenecks and unplugged routers - this is a system where "There's a planet in the way" will be a valid concern. The ability to deal with problems will be important.

Another concern is security. By its nature this system will be incredibly physically open. It has to be built to prevent outside interference, like those who would hack into the system and fake or destroy data just for the hell of it (which the Earth-bound internet has proven is another very strong human drive, on of our worst). Every exchange between nodes will involve secure identification and coded data, every point programmed to view everyone else as a liar until proved otherwise.

NASA are planning to share the protocols with other space services, setting up the first permanent node on the International Space Station (the test network point on the Epoxi probe has been deleted to allow it to be reprogrammed for its new mission). The aim is to create an open, shared system whereby human knowledge can be vastly expanded and communicated between intelligent beings.

You know, like the first internet was meant to be. Let's hope this one has better luck.

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By Luke McKinney

Interplanetary Internet on New Scientist

Image credit: NASA/JPL

Comments

[mikeyguy]

This is where sub-space communications comes in. Then we will have almost unlimited distance and object communication. I wonder who will step up and invent or implement this. It will be very cool to have real time communication using a tunneling sub-space ability.

[mikeyguy]

stretching on from previous comment, we need to develop a quantum crystal array to use sub-space communications. We are now knowing the preliminary effects of quantum physics. Perhaps in a few years we can utilize the properties of a said quantum crystal for a lot of purposes. Imagine!

[spaceman]

we are the borg!