WG Review: Taking IP To Other Planets (tiptop)

The IESG <iesg-secretary@ietf.org> Fri, 10 January 2025 17:44 UTC

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Subject: WG Review: Taking IP To Other Planets (tiptop)
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A new IETF WG has been proposed in the Internet Area. The IESG has not made
any determination yet. The following draft charter was submitted, and is
provided for informational purposes only. Please send your comments to the
IESG mailing list (iesg@ietf.org) by 2025-01-20.

Taking IP To Other Planets (tiptop)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Current status: Proposed WG

Chairs:
  TBD

Assigned Area Director:
  Éric Vyncke <evyncke@cisco.com>

Internet Area Directors:
  Erik Kline <ek.ietf@gmail.com>
  Éric Vyncke <evyncke@cisco.com>

Mailing list:
  Address: deepspace@ietf.org
  To subscribe: https://mailman3.ietf.org/mailman3/lists/deepspace.ietf.org/
  Archive: https://mailarchive.ietf.org/arch/browse/deepspace

Group page: https://datatracker.ietf.org/group/tiptop/

Charter: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/charter-ietf-tiptop/

Space communications involve long, variable delays (e.g., Earth to Mars is
4-20 minutes one-way) and intermittent end-to-end connectivity. Until now,
space communications have relied on layer-2 point-to-point networking,
sometimes involving relays, without establishing end-to-end IP networks
adapted for these circumstances.

Deploying IP networks on the surfaces of celestial bodies, such as the Moon
or Mars, that connect to orbital equipment and further on to Earth creates
the opportunity for in-space IP-based internetworking and the ability to
support IP applications end-to-end.

Given the delays and disruptions involved in space communications, protocols
may have to be profiled or extended to operate efficiently in this
environment. While lunar network deployments are the first target environment
for consideration, designs should consider support for communication with
Mars and other deep space targets.

This working group will work on the following items:

- Description of the key characteristics, use cases, and requirements that
make the space  environment unique.

- Documentation of the necessary differences that apply to the IP
architecture when considering space networking compared to terrestrial IP use.

- A profile for transport protocols (starting with QUIC as a work item), that
enables reliable, efficient, and secure end-to-end use in space.

- Considerations for the deployment of DNS will be documented, given the
often disconnected nature of space networks.

The Bundle Protocol (BP) and the IP networking of Low Earth Orbit (LEO),
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) constellations
are out of scope for this WG.

Existing protocols must be used to implement the necessary functions wherever
possible. If required by the use cases and requirements, any modifications of
existing protocols will be carried out in the WGs responsible for them and in
coordination with the TIPTOP WG. Alternatively, after agreement among the
relevant WG chairs and Area Directors, such work may be done in the TIPTOP WG.

The working group welcomes discussions with key stakeholders, such as the
working groups of the LunaNet Interoperability Specification (LNIS), the
Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG), the Consultative Committee for
Space Data Systems (CCSDS), national/regional space agencies, and the private
sector. Within the IETF, it will coordinate its work notably with TVR, QUIC,
TLS, DNSOP, and DTN. The coordination will include copying these WGs in calls
for adoption and WG last calls (when applicable), and avoiding time conflicts
during IETF meetings.

# Work Items

- Key characteristics, use cases, and requirements, Informational

- Applicability of the IP Architecture to space networking, Informational

- QUIC profile space networking, Informational

- DNS considerations in space networks, Informational

Milestones:

  Jul 2025 - Adopting an informational document about key characteristics,
  use cases, and requirements

  Nov 2025 - Adopting an informational document about the applicability of
  the IP Architecture to space networking

  Dec 2025 - Adopting an informational document about a QUIC profile for
  space networking

  Mar 2026 - Adopting an informational document about DNS considerations in
  space networking