(editor's note: In my daily treks through the news files of the world I'm amazed at the depth and scope of emerging science technologies! In the bigger picture of our changing world, we understand that these are stepping stones towards joining our Galactic community of scientists.

~All my Love, Boo)

Designing the Interplanetary Web

Reliable Internet access on the Moon, near Mars or for astronauts on a space station? How about controlling a planetary rover from a spacecraft in deep space? These are just some of the pioneering technologies that ESA is working on for future exploration missions.

"But our future focus goes well beyond just networking; we're looking at how agencies like ESA and NASA cooperate in orbit and how to interchange data in real time between different organisations' spacecraft and ground stations, as well as reliable technical standards for spacecraft navigation and flight control."

In the future, inter-satellite communication requirements are predicted to grow, and spacecraft should be capable of establishing powerful radio links with each other -- even while orbiting Mars at thousands of kilometres per hour.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120413101129.htm