The Idea of Interplanetary Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The idea of an interplanetary data network was conceived back with the internet actually, with its development, of course, still ongoing. The chief purpose here is to develop a deep space wireless network for efficient data transfers. The three primary components necessary for an effective interplanetary internet are as follows:
\uf0b7 Receiving\/Transmitting antennas on the earth
\uf0b7 Satellite constellations around other planets
\uf0b7 Suitable Internet protocol<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Protocol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The main difference in the internet on the earth and an interplanetary one is the protocol. Currently the TCP\/IP protocol drives internet on the earth. The protocol assumes uninterrupted data transfers – it has little tolerance for interruptions or loss of data packets. But interplanetary internet will have to account for a significant loss of data packets. It will have to continue uninterrupted in spite of major interruptions. While TCP\/IP dumps data packets which it cannot deliver, the new protocol will need wait for the channel to clear and deliver the interrupted data. It must also ignore the noise that will be added to the signals due to the large distances involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the proposed protocols to achieve this is the Parcel transfer protocol (PTP) – our path to a Disruption Tolerant Network, or DTN. A DTN is the only way to effectively establish network connectivity in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The infrastructure for an interplanetary internet would consist of receiver antennas and satellite transmitters. NASA built the Deep Space Network as a part of its project to establish an interplanetary network, with facilities built in California, Australia and Spain. Each facility is equipped with an array of three antennas which together make up the Deep Space Network. Once our interplanetary internet system is in place, these antennas will probably be responsible for receiving data from the transmitters as well as sending data to the equipment present in the deep space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A near-term objective of this project will be to establish internet on Mars. This involves pointing the deep space network antennas towards the red planet, and putting several satellites into orbit around Mars. A plan has been made to put six microsatellites and one large satellite into the Martian orbit. This satellite mission was supposed to be carried out in 2009, but was scrapped due to budget constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed functioning of the interplanetary internet is quite simple, once the infrastructure is in place. There must be several microsatellites and a large satellite orbiting a planet to establish internet connectivity. The microsatellites would act as relays from the surface of the planet to the larger satellite (. These would capture detailed information from the surface. These microsatellites can also collect data from other sources such as spacecraft. The larger satellite, after collecting data from the microsatellites, would transmit this data back to the antennas on the earth. In this way, the larger satellite would act as an information hub for the data transfer. However for this system to be successful, a functional internet protocol is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Artistic](\"https:\/\/yaabot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/yaabot_space_junk_6.jpg\")
The Infrastructure for Interplanetary Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Working <\/h2>\n\n\n\n