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CraterNet: Communications for Planetary Exploration

About

As a continuation of our work on both the High Performance Networking 2000 Project and our general disaster communications research, PolyLAB ran an experiment in integrated networking for space exploration as part of the NASA Haughton-Mars 1999 Expedition.

The crux of the experiment is a continuing study to understand the issues involved in delivering a fully integrated network solution featuring high-speed wireless networking and space-based communications in a remote and hostile environment. We also want to develop collaborative practice and software for these situations, as part of our ongoing work in general telecollaboration. Finally, we want to find ways to make space-based networking solutions affordable for the communities that need them.

Funding for CraterNet comes from the Simon Fraser University's Telematics Research Laboratory, Dean of Applied Science and the Vice-President Academic's Office, as well as the High Performance Computing Network, with equipment provided by Wi-Lan Ltd, TMI Communications Ltd, InfoSat Ltd, the Communications Research Centre (CRC), and SFU. CRC is a major research partner in the project, providing testing and advice on the main space-based links.

On site, Steve Braham participated with NASA scientists and engineers, as well as scientists from other research institutions. The ongoing NASA project's aim is to gather information on the Haughton Crater Mars analog site, to understand geological and microbiological processes on the Red Planet, and to test out technologies for manned exploration of the Solar System, especially Mars.

PlanetNet

The CraterNet project has evolved in the Canadian Space Agency funded PlanetNet Project, a collaboration between SFU, NASA, the SETI Institute, and CSA.

Future information will be posted at the PlanetNet site.

News

It will be a while before we can calculate all our final results and present them, and it's going to be a long study of all the various issues involved. Those results will be published on our PlanetNet site. However, we have a few things to show everybody:

Papers

  • Canada and Analogue Sites for Mars Exploration
    by Stephen Braham, Peter Anderson, Pascal Lee, Richard Alena, and Brian Glass
    published in Proceedings of the Second Canadian Space Exploration Workshop
    Available Versions:

Maps

Map images of the region:
Note: Bitmaps are roughly 4M in size! JPEG images are roughly 500K.

Generated by PolyScience, (c) 2000 Steve Braham, Simon Fraser University PolyLAB.