The document discusses plans for an Interplanetary Internet (IPN) to connect spacecraft and bases between Earth, Mars, and other planets. Major space agencies like ESA and NASA are working to develop the necessary communication satellites and protocols to allow astronauts and explorers to communicate in real-time despite the large distances involved. Initial goals are to connect astronauts among themselves and with control centers, with later plans calling for a fully implemented IPN by 2040 to simplify communications for future space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. The IPN could revolutionize how people work in outer space, similar to how the Internet has changed life on Earth.

1. By
Asheem Kumar Palo
Centurion University,
INDIA

2. INTRODUCTION
The era of networked space communications is slowly dawning across ESA (European
Space Agency), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) etc.
All the major space organizations and industrial partners have been working together
as part of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
The first goal will be to let astronauts communicate among themselves, with control
centers on Earth, and with spaceships and base stations

3. The gateways: The special purpose satellites connecting the earth’s internet with the
network of another planet
A 'bundle protocol' is needed because the IPN will not be able to communicate in real-
time due to the large travel distances

4. The present scenario
JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) has performed a conceptual study of a proposed Mars
Network and the required satellites.
The satellites are
• Microsats: for communication around Mars using small satellites
• MARSat: Larger Mars Aero-stationary Relay Satellites, more capable MARSat
satellite acting as a higher bandwidth gateway to Earth

8. PHYSICAL CHALLENGES
Large distance
The time delay between request for and receipt of information
Interactive protocols do not work

9. TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
 power consumption by the various nodes in the system
 servicing of broken hardware
 orbital dynamics - the problems that arise when the sun is between
two points that wish to communicate

10. THE FUTURE
The IPN will vastly simplify the communications element of future space exploration
missions.
aiming to be fully implemented between 2020 and 2040
primarily in the moon and the mars
NASA has plans to make this gateway accessible to the public as much as is possible.
However, this capability will demand security of the highest order.

11. CONCLUSION
Ultimately, we could see a space borne internet that could revolutionize how people
work in outer space, just as the internet is changing our Earth-bound life.
People who surf the Internet today and tap websites in extreme locations such as
Antarctica may someday be able to communicate to web or servers on Martian
microsatellites to request data directly from Mars