Using SmallSats and DTN for Communication in Developing Countries
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.1.8
- Author
Mr. Christopher Krupiarz, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Edward Birrane, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Increased access to communication and the Internet is a vital element to assisting developing countries. For example, email and file distribution across the Internet can provide expanded awareness of health related issues, political concerns, and educational opportunities. However, many remote locations in these developing regions do not have easy access to land-based Internet connectivity and satellite communication may prove to be a costly alternative. A potential solution to this problem can be found through the combination of two primary elements: Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) and CubeSats. DTN is a computer network research area examining how elements in a network can communicate across various different types of networks. Central to this function is the ability of DTN to overcome delays and disruptions in network communication, which, for example, are frequently found in wireless communications at remote locations and in developing countries. CubeSats are very small satellites typically developed by universities or small companies for instructional purposes or for applications of limited functionality. With these two technologies at hand, a communication network could be formed by gradually deploying, one satellite at a time, a constellation of DTN routers in low Earth orbit. A user at a remote location node, disconnected from the Internet, would issue a request for data using DTN. When a courier CubeSat flies over the user’s location, outbound and inbound data for that location are exchanged. The courier CubeSat queues the request for transmission to the next Internet-connected ground node it flies over. When that node receives the request it forwards the request via Internet to whichever Internet host can best satisfy it. That host generates the appropriate response and transmits the response to whichever Internet-connected ground node will next see the first satellite that will pass over the node that issued the original request. When that satellite receives this response data, it queues the data for transmission to the original requesting node at the next overflight opportunity. A working body of DTN code already exists and the low cost of entry of CubeSats means that the community supporting this network could be mostly universities, non-government organizations, and private individuals. The network could encourage very broad participation, offering virtually anybody a chance to contribute to the program through either the construction of the satellites or the operation of Internet-connected ground nodes.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.1.8.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.