Scientists say that the inter-planetary Internet must be robust to withstand delays, disruptions and disconnections in space. Also, glitches can happen when a spacecraft moves behind a planet, or when solar storms and long communication delays occur. The delay in sending or receiving data from Mars takes between three-and-a-half to 20 minutes at the speed of light, NASA highlighted.

DTN demonstration

According to the space agency, engineers began a month-long series of DTN demonstrations in October. Data were transmitted using NASA's Deep Space Network in demonstrations occurring twice a week. Engineers used NASA's Epoxi spacecraft as a Mars data-relay orbiter.

This month-long experiment is the first in a series of planned demonstrations to qualify the technology for use on a variety of upcoming space missions. In the next round of testing, a NASA-wide demonstration using new DTN software loaded on board the International Space Station is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year.

In the next few years, the inter-planetary Internet could enable many new types of space missions, NASA added.