Abstract
We propose a one-day mini workshop on the use of standards-based, automatic communications protocols in the design of future space missions. Invited and contributed papers will explore the available technologies, and both potential benefits as well as challenges inherent in an evolution from classical mission-by-mission communications design to a design based on standard protocols.
Theme and Goals
Mission operations for science spacecraft have historically been based on a simple communications model: the mission operations center on Earth transmits commands to the spacecraft at irregular intervals and at low data rates, while the spacecraft transmits science and engineering telemetry to the mission operations center at every opportunity and at relatively high rates.
This simplicity was highly appropriate in the early days of space flight when vehicle operations had to be hand-crafted in order to obtain the maximum possible science data return from the very limited processing and storage resources of those spacecraft. The implementation of that model grew more elaborate as requirements for spacecraft capability and mission performance grew over time, to the point where today only very extensive end-to-end managed infrastructure in ground data systems – scripts, utility software, and human procedures – can sustain it for modern missions.
Now, however, as spacecraft embark on missions requiring data relay functionality and even inter-spacecraft collaboration at roughly symmetric data rates, the limitations of this communications model become increasingly apparent: the cost of scaling up the managed infrastructure required for continuous spacecraft management over pairwise communication links increases sharply as links among spacecraft begin to proliferate.
We suggest that it is time to reconsider the classical information system model for space flight missions based on individually managed, pair-wise operational structures. This workshop explores options for the evolution of this classical operations structure to one based on an operational network model, implemented using standards-based, automatic communications protocols designed for operation in delayand disruption-tolerant networks (DTNs)[1].
Even a gradual change in the design of the communications infrastructure for space missions brings with it challenges and risks (real and perceived), while offering rewards in the form of reduced mission management complexity, reduced operational cost, and increased mission flexibility, resiliency, and efficiency. This workshop will use invited talks as well as contributed papers to explore the current level of maturity of delay-tolerant networking protocols, research results on the implementation and use of these protocols, and potential designs of network-based operational structures for complex space missions. A special aim of this workshop is to facilitate a dialog between communication network specialists and mission designers and operators in an effort to promote future systems which benefit from the promise of new operational network structures without sacrificing mission stability and capability. This approach was very successful in a similar workshop we organized at SMC-IT '06, and we are confident that this workshop will foster similar advances in the design of communication networks for space missions.
Relevance
We plan a one-day workshop consisting of four 90-minute sessions. The first session will be a tutorial session of invited papers on the current status and capabilities of delay tolerant networking protocols, followed by three topical sessions of research and concept papers. Each session will conclude with a 15-minute (30 minutes for the final session) general question and answer session to facilitate dialog between communications and operations experts. Based on our experience at SMC-IT '06, we expect an attendance of around 50 participants.
Structure
The workshop focuses on the ability to effectively move information to, from, and among spacecraft operating as part of complex, multi-spacecraft missions. This topic is central to the design of IT for space missions.
Solicitation and Selection
We will solicit contributions using an open call for papers for the three research sessions, primarily on the relevant mailing lists. Each submission will be reviewed by two members of the program committee. We will invite speakers for the tutorial session.
Organizers
This workshop is the successor of the "Next Generation Communication Infra-structure and Protocols for Deep-Space Communications" workshop held at SMC-IT '06. Three of the current proposers (Kruse, Ostermann, and Farrell) were members of the previous organizing committee.
Hans Kruse is a Professor at Ohio University in the School of Information and Telecommunication Systems and the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has 15 years of research experience in space-based communication protocols; he served as the manager of the consortium operating the NASA ACTS spacecraft after its official end-of-mission from 2001 to 2003.
Shawn Ostermann is an Associate Professor and Chair of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Ohio University, where he heads the Internetworking Research Group. His research interests have included space-based communications since 1993.
Together, Drs. Kruse and Ostermann oversee a group of research students who maintain and support the ION (Interplanetary Overlay Network) implementation of the delay tolerant networking standards, written at JPL.
Scott Burleigh is the principle author of the ION software developed at JPL. He is co-author of many of the DTN standards documents.
Stephen Farrell is a Research Fellow at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He is co-chair of the Delay Tolerant Research Group and co-author of a number of standards documents for DTN protocols, with an emphasis on security.
Preliminary Call for Papers
We invite you to submit a concept or research paper to the Workshop on Standards Based Operational Network Structures for Future Space Missions to be held at SMC-IT '09. The aim of the workshop is to bring together experts in Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN), space communication system designers and implementers, and the space mission operations community. The workshop will start with a tutorial session of invited papers that will provide an overview of the current status of the DTN standards, followed by several sessions of research presentations. Each session will conclude with an extensive Q&A period. We invite the submission of original research or concept design papers in the following areas:
- Space communication network design based on
- DTN standards
- Research results from operational experience with, or simulation of, DTN-based space communication networks.
- Routing and node/service discovery in DTN-based space networks.
- Naming and Addressing in DTN-based space networks.
- Network Management for DTN-based space networks.
- Command and Control of space assets based on DTN protocols.
The program committee invites the submission of papers outside the areas listed above, and will make every effort to incorporate quality papers into the workshop program. All submissions will be peer-reviewed.
Organizers
Hans Kruse, Shawn Ostermann, Ohio University; Scott Burleigh, JPL; Stephen Farrell, Trinity College.
Principal Organizer
Hans Kruse
1292 Lindley Hall, Ohio University
Athens, Ohio, 45701
Phone: +1-740-593-4891
kruse@ohiou.edu
[1] The Delay Tolerant Network Research Group: http://www.dtnrg.org and references contained therein.
Via Morego, 30 16163 Genova
www.iit.it
