ISS Launches First Permanent Node of "Interplanetary Internet" 121
schliz writes "Researchers developing the 'Interplanetary Internet' have launched its first permanent node in space via a payload aboard the International Space Station. The network is based on a new communications protocol called Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN). It will be tested heavily this month, and could give astronauts direct Internet access within a year. The Interplanetary Internet is the brainchild of Vint Cerf ('father of the Internet'), among others. Last year, NASA tested the technology on the Deep Impact spacecraft." Update: 07/13 20:01 GMT by KD : If by "permanent" we mean seven years.
Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking? (Score:3, Interesting)
Hmmmmm. Will we get an earthly version of DTN that ensures I can successfully download large files over TOR? Now, *that* would be useful.
Re:It will be tested heavily this month... (Score:5, Interesting)
Traffic capacity? (Score:1, Interesting)
I would be interested in reading some specifications about what traffic capacity this node has.
What protocols is it using? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Cool protocol.. but sounds a bit familiar... (Score:3, Interesting)
Given that DTN sits between two layers already in the kernel, it'd be stupid to have DTN in userspace. (Stupid and potentially dangerous, as you then have a userspace app injecting data into a fairly low level part of the kernel in a way that would have to bypass a lot of safeguards.)
As for stuff that's in the kernel that shouldn't be - want to give some examples? I can think of a few things that are probably not great, but I can't think of anything that absolutely shouldn't be there.