Towards the Interplanetary Internet: An IoT Perspective
2026-08-17 • Networking and Internet Architecture
Networking and Internet Architecture
AI summaryⓘ
The authors explain that both space missions to places like the Moon and Mars and Internet of Things (IoT) devices share similar communication challenges. They discuss how using the standard Internet Protocol (IP) for deep-space communication, which was once overlooked, is now being reconsidered to create an Interplanetary Internet. This approach would allow space devices to use familiar IoT protocols to communicate more easily across long distances in space. The paper also reviews current efforts by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to develop these standards and suggests future possibilities for this technology.
Interplanetary InternetInternet Protocol (IP)Internet of Things (IoT)Deep-space communicationIETFNetworking infrastructureSpace missionsProtocol stack
Authors
Carles Gomez, Jon Crowcroft
Abstract
Public administrations and private companies have announced plans to deploy networking infrastructure to support future robotic and human presence on or near space targets, such as the Moon and Mars. While using an IP protocol stack for deepspace communication had been neglected, recent events have motivated the reconsideration of IP to enable the Interplanetary Internet. This new paradigm facilitates the integration of IP-based Internet of Things (IoT) protocols for deep-space environments. This paper illustrates the similarities between deep-space and IoT scenarios, presents related IETF standardization work, and discusses opportunities and future directions for IP-based IoT protocols in the Interplanetary Internet.