A roadmap to future space connectivity: satellite and interplanetary networks

Space and terrestrial systems are more tightly related then anyone can suspect. A part from the obvious cooperation and synergy that must exist between the space and terrestrial components of an integrated infrastructure, another subtended relationship characterizes terrestrial and space activities: the virtuous osmosis of architectures and technologies adopted on Earth to space and vice versa. It is perhaps more instinctive to expect a from-Earth-to-space osmosis of technologies and architectures and the spin-in as the natural way to go. The capability, instead, of space technologies and related architectures to pour innovations on Earth is amazing and the spin-out from space to Earth is very rewarding and surprising since at least the first Apollo mission! A consequence of the bidirectional contamination between Earth and space is that actions and choices of Human Beings in the space realm have an effect on Earth. It is a great opportunity, a fascinating challenge but also a very strong responsibility. Selecting the suitable technology for a space system is then much more than finalising a new mission or a service in a cost and operation effective manner. To be more precise, let’s say that the measure of effectiveness risks to be inaccurate in terms of predictable and unpredictable effects in the medium and long term. This book is focused on a roadmap for future space connectivity that moves from awareness and responsibility in the use of the space domain. The above approach makes space indeed a main actor not only in the progress of knowledge and in the recognition of the recently added right of Humanity of “connecting the unconnected”, but also in the capability of assuring a satisfactory future to all of us. Despite the neutrality of technology, that is neither good nor bad by itself but that can become either one according to the use we make of it, the roadmap for future space connectivity is studded with choices on both technologies and architectures that can turn out to be right or wrong for the ambitious goal of a suitable way ahead for Mankind. Let’s be somehow disruptive here in measuring the suitability of technologies and architectures with their success of failure in passing a Glue Tech test of compliance. In fact, a Glue Technology (GT) is a powerful means of integrating various components while maintaining effectively their autonomy. By applying the GT paradigm to future connectivity infrastructures, the integration between terrestrial, aerial and space components could pave the way for very ambitious goals, including “connecting the connected” in a truly sustainable manner. The GT paradigm is so promising, that a group of experts worldwide created a technical panel of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), named “Glue Technologies for Space Systems”, whose focus is the conception, design and application of Glue Technologies in space missions, infrastructures and services under the sustainability umbrella. The editors and most of the Chapter authors of this book belong to the above AESS panel. The holistic nature of sustainability makes it not effective to focus on Earth without caring effectively for the surrounding domain (space). Therefore, space sustainability is part of the picture and its implementation contributes to reach the more obvious goal of a green Earth. In the book space sustainability is both an underlying topic for different frameworks and a specific topic in a dedicated Chapter. A powerful equation relates the capability of implementing sustainable space systems to the identification - and consequent use - of only Glue Technologies and related architectures. In fact, the horizontal ranges of application realms that a GT guarantees along with its related software-driven architectures offer to the system intrinsic pillars for its sustainable design, implementation and operations along with a good potential for its future recycling or, even better, upcycling. It is not dreamful to envisage in the future a system certification based on the use of only pure Glue Technologies and to expect a standardization activity related to the GT paradigm. We hope the reader will be captured by the GT concept and its broad range of implications and potentials and that he/she will be stimulated to contribute to the future of space connectivity in a sustainable manner. The book is organized in four parts dedicated to satellite communications technology (Part I), systems and infrastructures (Part II), interplanetary networking (Part III) and new space applications (Part IV). Disruptive technologies, configurations, implications, design guidelines and verticals will guide the reader in the articulated domains of the GT paradigm. Enjoy the journey…