InterPlanetary Internet

InterPlanetary Internet

Abstract

This document describes the Interplanetary Internet (IPN): a communication system to provide Internet-like services across interplanetary distances in support of deep space exploration. In this paper, we discuss the expansion of internet beyond Earth to form an interplanetary network of Internets reaching to Mars and beyond. An application would be to help facilitate communications between Mars and Earth. By placing required infrastructure in place around Mars individual spacecraft on Mars would not require as much communications capability as is presently the case. This could allow mission designers to either use smaller spacecraft, or devote more weight and volume to scientific payloads. This paper discusses this and other potentials of IPN. The potential applications of an Interplanetary Internet extend well beyond the management of space missions. IPN would look like internet on Earth and similar ones on other planets linked by Gateways. These Gateways are satellites, which relay the information between the Internets. There is still a lot of research and challenges to overcome before the IPN becomes reality. The paper also discusses these problems. The paper also looks at protocol suite called Space Communications Protocol Standards (SCPS).