11–12 Dec 2013
ESTEC
UTC timezone

Space Internetworking Protocols and Delay Tolerant Networking Prototyping

12 Dec 2013, 16:15
45m
Newton 2 (ESTEC)

Newton 2

ESTEC

Speaker

Mr Stuart Fowell (SCISYS)

Description

Activity: TRP TO: Chris Taylor/Data Systems Division The primary objective of the study was to take a critical view of the proposal to move to a network architecture based on Delay/Disjoint Tolerant Networking (DTN). The DTN protocols are still emerging and are mostly targeted at terrestrial applications; their suitability for space usage is therefore unproven. A network architecture using a network layer protocol for all interconnection is fully appropriate for terrestrial applications but for remote space assets there are issues related to contingency and emergency operations which may require alternative or additional connectivity and functionality, for example for emergency commanding. As a result, there were a number of key objectives of the study: • To scrutinise the use of a network based architecture using DTN based protocol suites for use in ESA and cooperative missions and to identify any shortcomings or required changes and additions. • To determine the impact on the existing space infrastructures, including protocols and the flight data handling system. • To gain experience with operating DTN through the provision of a test-bed infrastructure suitable for cooperating in international experiments. • To identify a deployment policy which takes account of the use and capabilities of the existing CCSDS and ECSS protocols, in particular CFDP. • To provide a simulation capability able to evaluate complex internetworking scenarios. • To complement on-going ground studies by focussing on flight segment aspects. • To provide analysis and feedback to the CCSDS DTN working group. The basic DTN protocol evaluation was required to be performed using a test-bed implementation but for more complex architectures the use of a Simulator was deemed a more appropriate approach. Therefore a Simulator was provided which can be configured to evaluate CFDP and CFDP-over-DTN scenarios involving multi-hop, multi-route configurations. The Simulator covered the use of existing CCSDS protocols as the underlying datalink including the CCSDS Proximity-1 protocol. In order to investigate the operation and capabilities of DTN and compare against CFDP, a testbed implementation was provided as an update to the existing RASTA infrastructure.

Presentation materials