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MDP: Reliable File Transfer for Space MissionsThis paper presents work being done at NASA/GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) by the Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI) project to demonstrate the application of the Multicast Dissemination Protocol (MDP) to space missions to reliably transfer files. This work builds on previous work by the OMNI project to apply Internet communication technologies to space communication. The goal of this effort is to provide an inexpensive, reliable, standard, and interoperable mechanism for transferring files in the space communication environment. Limited bandwidth, noise, delay, intermittent connectivity, link asymmetry, and one-way links are all possible issues for space missions. Although these are link-layer issues, they can have a profound effect on the performance of transport and application level protocols. MDP, a UDP (User Datagram Protocol)-based reliable file transfer protocol, was designed for multicast environments which have to address these same issues, and it has done so successfully. Developed by the Naval Research Lab in the mid 1990s, MDP is now in daily use by both the US Post Office and the DoD (Department of Defense). This paper describes the use of MDP to provide automated end-to-end data flow for space missions. It examines the results of a parametric study of MDP in a simulated space link environment and discusses the results in terms of their implications for space missions. Lessons learned are addressed, which suggest minor enhancements to the MDP user interface to add specific features for space mission requirements, such as dynamic control of data rate, and a checkpoint/resume capability. These are features that are provided for in the protocol, but are not implemented in the sample MDP application that was provided. A brief look is also taken at the status of standardization. A version of MDP known as NORM (Nack Oriented Reliable Multicast) is in the process of becoming an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standard.
Document ID
20020052630
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rash, James
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Criscuolo, Ed
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD United States)
Hogie, Keith
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD United States)
Parise, Ron
(Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD United States)
Hennessy, Joseph F.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: ESTO Technology Conference
Location: Pasadena, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 11, 2002
End Date: June 13, 2002
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: GS-35F-4381G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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