Today we want to bring you one of those news items that seem to immerse us in a science fiction film and that make us get excited and see how far technology, and more specifically the Internet, can go. Recently, we have learned that NASA is working on a protocol that will allow Internet connection in outer space.
DTN protocol
The Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) protocol is NASA’s project to adapt the Internet infrastructure in space.
Something that seemed impossible is close to becoming a reality: bringing Internet connectivity to an environment as vast as outer space. It seems that this is going to be possible thanks to the DTN project, which NASA has been working on for some time in collaboration with Vinton Cerf, one of the fathers of the network of networks we know today.
The DTN is a set of network protocols, similar to those of the terrestrial Internet, designed to withstand powerful disruptions in connectivity, including those caused by a planet or star passing between two network nodes.
In traditional Internet protocols all nodes on the transmission path must be available at the time of transmission. The DTN protocol employs a technique called “store and forward” which stores parts of the data at various nodes along the transmission path until they can be forwarded or retransmitted and then joined at the final destination.
Internet of Things
Of course, with this news, talking about the Internet of Things (IoT) or wireless networks means giving these concepts a new dimension. Who knows, we may soon be asking the commander of a space shuttle what the key to Wi-Fi is.
At Esferize we always welcome this type of news with excitement and we recognise that it arouses great expectations for what it may represent in the future. For the moment, it is only a first step, but we will remain attentive to tell you about all the advances that are being made in this new space connection panorama.
