IRIS (Internet Routing in Space)
Encyclopedia
IRIS was a program to build a radiation-tolerant IP router created by Cisco Systems
for satellite and related spacecraft. It is a follow on from Cisco's earlier CLEO router in space on the UK-DMC satellite
. The Cisco Space Router was launched to geostationary orbit on board Intelsat 14
(IS-14), a spacecraft built by Space Systems/Loral
for satellite operator Intelsat
, in November 2009. IRIS was evaluated by the United States Department of Defense
by way of a JCTD (Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration). The Space Router runs Cisco IOS
(Internetworking Operating System) software and also contains an onboard Software-defined radio
running satellite modem waveforms. The United States Department of Defense
used the JCTD to evaluate the reduced latency, improved throughput and increased flexibility provided by the Space Router.
The Space Router provides the ability to route IP traffic on board the satellite, which enables users of Web, VoIP, and other IP applications to directly communicate over satellite without having to double-hop data to and from an intermediate Earth station
. The ability to avoid the double-hop to the Earth station
can reduce latency, which is approximately 250msec for GEO satellites. Latency reduction is a key driver for increased use of real-time applications, including video teleconferencing, over satellites. The avoidance of the double-hop to the Earth station
can also reduce satellite transponder costs. Routing IP traffic natively on the satellite with the router’s built-in Cisco IOS
Software and onboard Software-defined radio
can increase throughput, reduce latency, and enable flexible bandwidth-on-demand real-time applications between users in different geographic regions that do not have easy access to fiber networks.
IRIS is an example of a hosted payload
, a method to add multiple non-core components to satellite to reduce the cost of launching the components into orbit.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
for satellite and related spacecraft. It is a follow on from Cisco's earlier CLEO router in space on the UK-DMC satellite
UK-DMC
The UK-DMC satellite is one of a number of satellites in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation . It was built by Surrey Satellite Technology, who operate it via DMC International Imaging on behalf of the UK Space Agency...
. The Cisco Space Router was launched to geostationary orbit on board Intelsat 14
Intelsat 14
Intelsat 14 is a communications satellite owned by Intelsat located at 45° West longitude, serving the Americas, Europe, and African markets. Intelsat 14 replaced Intelsat 1R which was at the end of its design life...
(IS-14), a spacecraft built by Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral , of Palo Alto, California, is the wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. It was acquired in 1990 for $715 million by Loral Corp. from Ford Motor Company as the Space Systems Division of Ford Aerospace...
for satellite operator Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
, in November 2009. IRIS was evaluated by the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
by way of a JCTD (Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration). The Space Router runs Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS is the software used on the vast majority of Cisco Systems routers and current Cisco network switches...
(Internetworking Operating System) software and also contains an onboard Software-defined radio
Software-defined radio
A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices...
running satellite modem waveforms. The United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
used the JCTD to evaluate the reduced latency, improved throughput and increased flexibility provided by the Space Router.
The Space Router provides the ability to route IP traffic on board the satellite, which enables users of Web, VoIP, and other IP applications to directly communicate over satellite without having to double-hop data to and from an intermediate Earth station
Earth station
A ground station, earth station, or earth terminal is a terrestrial terminal station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft, and/or reception of radio waves from an astronomical radio source. Ground stations are located either on the surface of the Earth, or within Earth's...
. The ability to avoid the double-hop to the Earth station
Earth station
A ground station, earth station, or earth terminal is a terrestrial terminal station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft, and/or reception of radio waves from an astronomical radio source. Ground stations are located either on the surface of the Earth, or within Earth's...
can reduce latency, which is approximately 250msec for GEO satellites. Latency reduction is a key driver for increased use of real-time applications, including video teleconferencing, over satellites. The avoidance of the double-hop to the Earth station
Earth station
A ground station, earth station, or earth terminal is a terrestrial terminal station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft, and/or reception of radio waves from an astronomical radio source. Ground stations are located either on the surface of the Earth, or within Earth's...
can also reduce satellite transponder costs. Routing IP traffic natively on the satellite with the router’s built-in Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS is the software used on the vast majority of Cisco Systems routers and current Cisco network switches...
Software and onboard Software-defined radio
Software-defined radio
A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices...
can increase throughput, reduce latency, and enable flexible bandwidth-on-demand real-time applications between users in different geographic regions that do not have easy access to fiber networks.
IRIS is an example of a hosted payload
Hosted Payload
A hosted payload is a module attached to a commercial satellite with communications circuitry that operates independently of the main spacecraft but which shares the satellite’s power supply and transponders....
, a method to add multiple non-core components to satellite to reduce the cost of launching the components into orbit.
External links
- Will IRIS change the space business, Michael Armstrong-Smith, Space Newsfeed, May 2011.
- Cisco Systems material on IRIS
- Intelsat General material on IRIS
- SS Loral material on Intelsat-14