Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Blue Origin are now in competition over building an Interplanetary Internet to connect Mars and Earth. After winning NASA contracts to fly astronauts to the Moon, both companies are now working on spacecraft designs for Mars. They will build on the existing Mars orbiter network to create a super-network resembling the Internet, allowing communication between Mars and Earth.
NASA’s Mars orbiters, including spacecraft from NASA and the European Space Agency, currently act as relay stations transmitting data from Mars rovers to Earth. SpaceX and Blue Origin have plans to extend this network by developing spacecraft specifically for orbiting Mars. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is working with these companies to adapt Earth-orbit communication satellites for Mars and create a network of broadband connections between the two planets.
Vint Cerf, a key figure in the creation of the original Internet, is leading the development of the Interplanetary Internet. He envisions a future where Mars is integrated into a larger network, allowing for communication and data exchange between Earth, Mars, and beyond. Cerf explains that this new network will play a central role in NASA’s Mars expeditions and could potentially transform Mars into a second home for human civilization.
NASA researchers are exploring the potential for intelligent AI-enhanced robots to autonomously build human habitats on Mars in preparation for future colonization efforts. Using swarms of interconnected robots, these habitats could be constructed using materials found on Mars itself. The Interplanetary Internet will play a crucial role in relaying instructions to these robots and transmitting data back to Earth.
Cerf’s work on the Interplanetary Internet has been recognized with numerous awards, including the US National Medal of Technology and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has long championed the integration of space and cyberspace and foresees a future where the interplanetary network expands beyond Mars to other planets in the solar system. He believes that commercial enterprises will play a larger role in space communication systems in the future.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX aims to create a network of Starlink satellites around Mars to enable continuous communication with Earth. The company’s next-generation Starship is envisioned as a key component in deploying these satellites and expanding the reach of their network. With the potential for terabit-level data transfer between Earth and Mars, SpaceX could become a major player in building the infrastructure needed to support future Mars missions and colonization efforts.
