Secure Delay-tolerant Routing, Efficient Algorithms for Multi-hop Scheduling

Stottler Henke Associates, Inc. proposes S-DREAMS (Secure-DREAMS). This effort both furthers our understanding of security for interplanetary networks, as well as pushes the state of the art in interplanetary routing. We will investigate two DTN security requirements: network key management and security policy. Both areas are unsolved problems in the DTN community, and different studied approaches have applications for different network architectures, topologies, etc. Both are also critical to establishing a security context for establishing secure communications, which is a key requirement for network service providers. In this Phase I effort, we will identify use cases, advantages, and disadvantages of a variety of techniques. These include hierarchical, reputation-based, and self-healing key management. Additionally, identity-based, gossip-based, and trust-threshold policies for security. With support and feedback from the DTN stakeholders and community–such as the IETF DTN Working Group and CCSDS–we aim to identify key core components of different techniques, and present an associated specification. This specification will serve as a foundation for future DTN security research. In Phase II, we will create a reference implementation of this specification, and integrate it into DREAMS, our advanced DTN network routing and scheduling algorithm. We additionally propose further development work for DREAMS in order to align with key service provider requirements such as varying user policies (e.g., bandwidth sharing) and video streaming. This investigation and development ultimately envisions developing key components that are employable by network service providers. These range from NASA, other government agencies, and commercial providers. We will thus work closely with DTN stakeholders and researchers, and by working with DTN security expert Dr. Edward J. Birrane of Applied Physics Lab, we will be able to stay closely tuned to the community and stakeholders.

- S-DREAMS can be used in Lunar and Mars missions, such as Artemis, in order to enhance security protocols for interplanetary communication networks, ensuring safe and encrypted data transfer between Earth and spacecraft. It will contribute to the evolution of a robust, scalable, and secure interplanetary internet, such as LunaNet, aligning with NASA's Artemis and Mars exploration goals. - In the Artemis project, the Gateway space station will serve as a node in LunaNet, and aid in communication between Earth and Lunar nodes. By increasing security and enabling higher throughput in these networks, this would increase efficiency of valuable lunar projects. With humans on the lunar surface, enabling reliable communications becomes ever more important. - The MARS Relay Network currently serves to relay information from MARS based nodes back to Earth. Since the latency from MARS to Earth can reach up to 20+ minutes, increasing the efficiency of these communications is vital, especially in consideration of future human spaceflight projects. - S-DREAMS can also be used in Secure Space Communications in order to address security challenges such as key management and policy enforcement for NASA’s future lunar and Martian habitats, where secure and resilient communication is essential. - Missions using laser optical communications such as the Psyche mission would be able to support higher data rate transmissions, which, if integrated well into a DTN network, could help relay information from other nearby nodes if required. S-DREAMS has the ability to find routes for data transmissions that make the full use of possible bandwidths. - S-DREAMS can be used in ocean exploration missions such as NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) to enhance underwater and maritime communications where traditional networks struggle due to high latency, intermittent connectivity, and limited bandwidth. Space applications: - As NASA seeks to partner with other (perhaps international) governmental agencies for providing connectivity service, they may find S-DREAMS useful for providing secure deep space interplanetary interconnectivity. - For instance, the LunaNet architecture includes incorporating relays from third party service providers. - The technology can be generally applicable for multi-hop satellite communications, not just deep space and delay-tolerant ones. Such applications include the large LEO internet. Terrestrial applications: - Disaster scenarios - Service providers might consider using DTN and/or S-DREAMS for providing connectivity in areas with limited service as a result of disaster scenarios. - Tactical networks - Tactical networks with strict line-of-sight visibility requirements (and thus multi-hop communication requirements) as well as strict security requirements can be useful for DREAMS. DTN Stakeholders: - S-DREAMS seeks to contribute to the DTN stakeholder and research community as a whole, not just for NASA applications. These include private industry, such as Boeing, Applied Physics Laboratory, Amazon Kuiper, Starlink, etc. - Contributing research and technical specifications in this area while working closely with the DTN community will help advance the community’s understanding of how needs and requirements might be addressed.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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