Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) for Space Communication: An Overview

Disruption/Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) is a growing protocol suite for transmitting information in challenging communication environments like space where conventional Internet doesn’t work well. The paper is an outcome of the research that begins with the history of Space Communication Protocols put forth by CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data System), the need and deployment of DTN and extends up to testing and analysis of DTN Protocol in real-time scenarios. Bundle Protocol is the heart of DTN which is responsible for custody transfer. DTN has an upper edge over other protocols with respect to network management, security and quality-of-service. DTN Test Bed, DTN three-node configuration and NS2 Simulation Model give contact graphs and status reports at every node as a part of testing and analysing the performance of DTN compared to TCP. The paper deals with the loose ends of Bundle Protocol and the need for further enhancement in DTN for accomplishing future interplanetary space missions.