OVERVIEW

Space-Data Routers (SDR) allow Space Agencies, Academic

Institutes and Research Centers to share space-data generated by a
single or multiple missions, in a natural, exible, secure and
automated manner. We develop a communication overlay modeled
according to thematic context of missions, Ground Segment
topological distribution, Agency policies and Application restrictions
and requirements. We realize our model through the development of
Space-Data Routers: a (Delay-Tolerant Networking) DTN-enabled
device that: (i) incorporates the Space Agency administrative
instructions and policies for data dissemination and resource
utilization and (ii) integrates the DTN protocol stack with application,
network and link layer protocols. We pay particular attention to ESA
roadmap for Interplanetary Communications and implement a
communication scheme that scales natively with future deployments
in Space. In essence, we promote the ultimate objective of most
missions, which is to return space data, which, in turn, will be
disseminated and exploited for the benet of human scientic
knowledge. Space-Data Routers form an overlay suitable for
exploiting space data e!ciently, which is, by denition, a major
objective of all space missions and probably the most signicant
failure today.
SPACE-DATA ROUTERS
for the dissemination and exploitation of space-data
OBJECTIVES

1. Extend end-user access to space data through communicating
Ground Stations and Space Research Centers

2. Exploit data from Deep Space

3. Deliver e!ciently to end-users vast volumes of data over
terrestrial internetworks

4. Administer thematic cross-mission space data
CONSORTIUM

$ Democritus University of Thrace
$ Telespazio VEGA
$ Space Internetworks
$ National Observatory of Athens
$ University of Plymouth
CURRENT STATE IN SPACE-DATA
DISSEMINATION

$ No interconnection between Research Centers
$ Data are stored in one location
OUR VISION

Phase 1
$ Space-Data Routers are deployed in Ground Centers and
Research Institutes
$ Communication between Research Institutes is enabled
$ Load balancing: Space-Data are stored in several places
$ Authentication, Security
$ Policies: Data containing sensitive information can avoid
certain routes
$ Priorities: Data can be highly prioritized for urgent delivery
(eg. Control Data, Natural Disasters)

Phase 2
$ Space assets are interconnected: Resource sharing
$ Load balancing: Space data produced by a satellite can be
stored to other satellites before being dumped
$ Extended Connectivity: Other space assets can be
exploited to transfer data when there is crippled
connectivity or no direct LOS
$ Reliability -> Guaranteed
$ Improved resource management
$ Research -> model accuracy
$ Everyday-life -> emergency scenarios

IMPLEMENTATIONS

DTN Overlay
$ Security mechanisms
$ Transport mechanisms
$ Routing mechanisms
$ Management mechanisms
$ Convergence layers

Web-based application
$ Data ltering
$ Automated download of datasets
$ Authorised access to restricted datasets

EVALUATION

The SPICE DTN testbed was used as an
evaluation platform
$ Link layer hardware
$ Abundance of storage and processing
capabilities
$ Realistic emulation of space and
terrestrial links



IMPACT ON SELECTED SCENARIOS

$ AVHRR
- E!ciency: more e!cient management of networking resources
- Interoperability: a single architecture to support all types of data/
services/missions
- DTN-ready: future missions will run a DTN stack
$ Mars Express
- Robustness
- Routing exibility, especially in cases of multiple payloads with
diverse networking requirements and multiple available routes
- Interoperability
$ Space Weather missions
- Robustness
- Interoperability
- Data gathering from multiple missions
- On-demand multicasting facilitates faster exploitation in case of
emergency
$ Urban Heat Island
- Data gathering from multiple missions
This project has received funding from the European
Unions Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-
SPACE-2010-1) under grant agreement no. 263330.