This simulation environment of Contact Graph Routing that uses the QualNet network simulator leverages the previously developed space communication models. This software models the Contact Graph Routing (CGR) system proposed for future NASA missions and used in DINETl and DINET2 experiments. It runs inside the QualNet network simulator. This protocol model can assist NASA network designers who wish to use Delay Tolerant Networking protocols with Contact Graph Routing.

This work was done by John S. Segui and Esther H. Jennings of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Dan Broderick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Refer to NPO-47405.

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Aerospace Computer software and hardware Education and training People and personalities Simulation and modeling Simulators Software
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
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Delay Tolerant Networking Contact Graph Routing MACHETE Model

(reference NPO47405) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

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NASA Tech Briefs Magazine

This article first appeared in the April, 2015 issue of NASA Tech Briefs Magazine (Vol. 39 No. 4).

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Overview

The document is a Technical Support Package for Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) and Contact Graph Routing (CGR), specifically focusing on the MACHETE Model, as referenced in NASA Tech Briefs NPO-47405. It is produced under the Commercial Technology Program of NASA to disseminate aerospace-related developments with broader technological, scientific, or commercial applications.

DTN is a networking approach designed to facilitate communication in environments where traditional networking methods may fail due to long delays or disruptions, such as in space. The document highlights the implementation of DTN on various NASA projects, including its operation on International Space Station (ISS) payloads and testing on Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) deep space craft. The Interplanetary Overlay Network (ION) is mentioned as NASA's specific implementation of DTN, which includes network software designed to enhance communication across vast distances in space.

CGR is a routing strategy that utilizes future contact opportunities to optimize data transmission. The document discusses two key strategies within CGR: Earliest-Forfeit-Time and Earliest-Arrival-Time, which are tested on JPL deep space craft. These strategies aim to improve the efficiency of data delivery in scenarios where communication links are intermittent.

The document also outlines the results of simulations conducted across four solar system scenarios: Lunar, Lunar Polar, Martian Historic, and Martian Future. These simulations are crucial for understanding the performance of DTN and CGR in various environments and conditions.

Additionally, the document notes that Enhanced Contact Graph Routing (ECGR) has been shown to decrease network load while increasing the delivery ratio within a finite horizon, indicating its effectiveness in managing communication resources.

The authors of the document, John Seguí, Esther Jennings, and Scot Burleigh, presented their findings at the IEEE GLOBECOM Conference in Houston, Texas, on December 8, 2011. The document serves as a resource for researchers and technologists interested in the advancements of space networking technologies.

For further inquiries or additional information regarding research and technology in this area, the document provides contact details for the Innovative Technology Assets Management at JPL. Overall, this Technical Support Package encapsulates significant advancements in DTN and CGR, emphasizing their potential applications in space exploration and communication.