US Air Force Plans to Deploy Ultra-Fast Internet Node In Space

United States Air Force Secretary plans to add more satellite clusters and IP routing devices into space, in order to boost the satellites' performance. According to Wynne, the current embedded routing technology is not efficient anymore.

"Even as we've moved to smaller mission satellites, embedded router technology has gone bonkers. We need to start applying all the new developments in the LAN to space," he claimed during his speech at the Nation Space Symposium.

Wynne also claimed that high-speed LAN links could become a conventional networking method for the nano-satellite clusters that have already been launched. The technology allows it, and networking giant Cisco has demonstrated more individual prototypes for the so-called "IP routing in space."

Linking multiple satellites using high-speed links would allow the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to achieve "swarm intelligence" (the total amount of information gathered by a cluster of satellites). However, there is room for more efficient short-range communication links.

Wynne is one of the most important authorities when it comes to satellites, as he took care of important projects, such as advanced satellites, Space-Based Radar and the Transformational Satellite.

The Transformational Satellite is an extremely important program, as the Pentagon is currently working on an ultra-high-speed Internet node situated in space. "We've spent more than $2 billion for risk reduction in T-SAT so far," Wynne said. "We're in a good space now to move forward, provided the requirements for protected communications are clear."

However, the Transformational Satellite is being questioned by the Congress, as it is alleged to slow down the Army's modernization program. However, the US Army believes that it depends on reliable mobile communications, that can only be achieved using satellites.

"There is no doubt a management issue here," Wynne said. "I'm the titular executive agent for space, but I can't move without a committee of 100 behind me. But Koehler and Large can play a key role in responding to the GAO report, because, if they're not responsible parties, who is?"