Images from space are not only useful for mesmerizing us; they also have practical applications, such as helping us monitor the Sun’s activity. However, sending photographs and information about the Solar System captured by satellites or other devices to Earth can be hampered by technical difficulties, like the great distances between celestial bodies. One solution could be an interplanetary internet.

For several decades, astronomers worldwide have devoted significant efforts to exploring the planets, stars, and other cosmic elements, using equipment to capture images or data from space missions.

Advancements in technology have allowed these tools to become increasingly more efficient, but the way they transmit information back to Earth still has many complications.

“Interplanetary internet is a concept that has existed for a long time and responds to this need, but there are still many things left to do,” says César Vargas, research professor of the Innovation in Smart Digital Technologies and Infrastructure group at the School of Engineering and Sciences (EIC) of Tec de Monterrey, in an interview with TecScience.

Recently, Vargas, Rafaela Villalpando, and Abraham Urieta of the EIC published a proposal to design an intelligent interplanetary communication network that could help make the transmission of this information more efficient.

How could the Interplanetary Internet be Achieved?

The team’s proposal for an interplanetary internet involves placing satellites—called nodes—at key points around the most important planets or celestial bodies within the asteroid belt where Earth is located.

In turn, these nodes connect with other nodes to create a network that reaches the satellites on Earth. Each node has different functions and capabilities −such as establishing connections with other satellites, replicating a signal, or transmitting information− but they can all detect their own position.

“The design is similar to the internet network we have here on Earth, but there is no wiring,” Vargas explains.

Instead of cables, the nodes would use wireless optical communication technology to send information between satellites and intelligent algorithms to make communication more efficient.

Depending on the planet or space object to be explored and the aspect to be studied, such as the presence of an element, nanosatellites −satellites that weigh less than 10 kilograms− loaded with sensors, spectrometers, magnetometers, radiometers or high-resolution cameras could be sent there to capture the desired information.

The connection protocol they propose is so versatile that each explored planet would have its own network, which could communicate with a global network to bring the information back to Earth.

“By distributing the tasks, you can save a lot of energy and time in sending the collected information,” Vargas says.

Currently, most satellites use batteries or solar panels to generate the energy needed to return the collected information, but sometimes they take days to charge.

The Future of Universe Exploration

According to the researchers, the proposed network can not only help make the transmission of information between satellites more efficient but could also allow experts who monitor space to communicate and share relevant information more effectively.

“Photographs or chemical analyses collected by robots or nanosatellites could be sent faster and easier,” says Vargas.

Nowadays, with phenomena such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to create active and efficient communication networks between experts on different topics has become increasingly relevant.

Astronomers could use speeding up information transmission to monitor phenomena outside Earth, such as whether a black hole is approaching or inside it, such as the formation of sargassum.

“You can predict how far the sargassum will go and when it’s getting there in order to take efficient measures to reduce its impact,” says the researcher.

With this in mind, researchers hope that collaboration between astronomical institutions will become more frequent in the coming years and that proposals like theirs will be implemented.

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