Cislunar Interoperability through LunaNet and International Cooperation

The United States is leading an international effort to establish sustainable cislunar human exploration and science capabilities. Part of the infrastructure associated with this enormous effort provides the Communications, Networking, Position, Navigation & Timing (CPNT) now known internationally as LunaNet, the Lunar Internet. LunaNet combines traditional space communications and tracking with network layer services using Internet Protocol (IP) and Bundle Protocol (BP) that will eventually lead to the Solar System Internet (SSI). For efficient use of radio frequency (RF) spectrum and low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C), LunaNet also incorporates services for position and orbit determination as well as time distribution. Networking includes traditional IP-based service but also requires dealing with inherently high latency and disruption tolerance with intermittent connectivity. In Earth orbit, several nations have developed independent Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) but at the Moon, we must work together to combine capabilities into one international satellite-based navigation service. These capabilities require development of new standards and technologies based on an open, internationally-defined architecture that spans multiple technical domains, numerous standards organizations, and many contributors in space. This presentation provides an overview of the LunaNet architecture, its place in the cislunar campaign, and the efforts of space agencies, commercial operators, and standards organizations in defining, developing, and ? soon ? operating LunaNet.