Delay/Disruption-Tolerant Networking: Flight test results from the international space station

TLDR

The University of Colorado and NASA are extending Earth’s internet into outer space via Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN), a technology being tested on the International Space Station and evolving into an Interplanetary Internet. The study aims to demonstrate DTN’s capability to improve communication for international spacecraft fleets exploring the Moon and Mars. The authors describe the design and features of a DTN‑on‑ISS implementation and report initial experimental deployment results. Initial results from the experimental deployment show the DTN‑on‑ISS implementation functioning as intended.

Abstract

The University of Colorado is working with NASA to extend Earth's internet into outer space and across the solar system. The new networking technology is called Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN), and is being tested on the International Space Station. DTN will enable NASA and other space agencies around the world to better communicate with international fleets of spacecraft that will be used to explore the moon and Mars. This technology is evolving into an Interplanetary Internet. In this paper we describe the design and features of the DTN-on-ISS implementation as well as reporting initial results from the experimental deployment.