Re: Satellites running IP

[David Carek <[e-mail]>]

Adrian J. Hooke wrote:
> At 02:56 PM 6/13/2002 -0400, David Carek wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for existing satellites that use IP or other Internet 
>> protocols on board or in their air to ground communications.  If you 
>> know of any currently flying satellites with such capabilities I'd 
>> appreciate the references.
> 
> 
> David: what problems are you trying to solve, and why?
...
> And in what operational configurations are you trying to solve them?

I'm trying to identify available options for an IP compliant LEO science 
satellite, including susbsystem communications on-board as well as 
command, control, and telemetry to/from ground.  Two communications 
paths would exist: One direct LEO to ground; and one to ground via 
TDRSS(GEO).

A collegue and I have been tasked to write a communications architecute 
paper for such a system, that uses only Internet protocols end to end. 
Obviously, mission requirements and budget would ultimately define what 
is used on a real mission, but this is just a cut at a generic mission.

The problem is, that I keep coming up with more reasons not to use 
Internet protols, than reasons to use them.  Having worked on flight 
software I know the value in minimizing the SLOC count and complexity of 
flight code.  I supposed if a "flight qualified" stack were available, 
it would be much more readily accepted. I personally like the SCPS 
specifications, but I've been asked to try to identify options using 
only current Internet standards.  This creates a problem, in that some 
application level protocol will be necessary ... so I'm kind of back in 
the non-standards realm.  That's why I wanted to see if anybody has 
already done this, and to what extent.