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NASA Tests Deep-Space Network Modeled On the Internet

Posted by kdawson on from the here-hold-this dept.

hcg50a writes "NASA has successfully tested the first deep space communications network modeled on the Internet. Working as part of a NASA-wide team, engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, used software called Disruption-Tolerant Networking, or DTN, to transmit dozens of space images to and from a NASA science spacecraft located about 20 million miles from Earth. The store-and-forward protocol was designed by NASA in consultation with Vint Cerf. Here's a discussion from last July before the test began."

2 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Remember FIDONet by Cyberax · · Score: 4, Informative

    We already have a working _global_ _worldwide_ _free_ network based on store-and-forward protocols.

    It's called FIDONet. It's almost dead now, but it was very alive during early 90-s before the advent of cheap Internet.

    Kids...

  2. Re:Store anf forward.. could it be... by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 4, Informative

    With space you have no internet (i.e. road) and TTLs are too high to use the same technology we use here.

    You might think so, but it *has* been shown to work. I mean, don't tell me you never heard of the pigeon protocol?