MACHETE: Environment for Space Networking Evaluation Esther H. Jennings 1 , John S. Segui 2 , Simon Woo 3 , Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109 Space exploration missions require the design and implementation of space networking that differs from terrestrial networks. In a space networking architecture, communication protocols need to be designed, validated and evaluated carefully to support different mission requirements. As actual systems are expensive to build, it is essential to have a low cost method to validate and verify mission/system designs and operations. This can be accomplished through simulation. Simulation can aid design decisions where alternative solutions are being considered, support trade-studies and enable fast study of what-if scenarios. It can be used to identify risks, verify system performance against requirements, and as an initial test environment as one moves towards emulation and actual hardware implementation of the systems. We describe the development of Multi-mission Advanced Communications Hybrid Environment for Test and Evaluation (MACHETE) and its use cases in supporting architecture trade studies, protocol performance and its role in hybrid simulation/emulation. The MACHETE environment contains various tools and interfaces such that users may select the set of tools tailored for the specific simulation end goal. The use cases illustrate tool combinations for simulating space networking in different mission scenarios. This simulation environment is being used to understand architectural implications as NASA moves toward a network-centric service provider architecture. It is also used to evaluate performance of existing networks where non-determinism exists in data traffic and/or link conditions. Nomenclature AOS = Advanced Orbiting System BP = Bundle Protocol Kbps = Kilo bits per second CCSDS = Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems CFDP = CCSDS File Delivery Protocol DTN = Delay Tolerant Networking IETF = Internet Engineering Task Force IND = JPL’s Interplanetary Network Directorate IPN = Inter-Planetary Network LTP = Licklider Transmission Protocol MACHETE = JPL’s Multi-mission Advanced Communications Hybrid Environment for Test and Evaluation NI&E = Network Integration and Engineering SCaN = Space Communications and Navigation SOAP = this acronym is used for two entirely different objects in two different contexts (1) Satellite Orbit Analysis Tool; (2) Simple Object Access Protocol (a web services tool) STK = Satellite Tool Kit TOAST = Telecomm Orbital Analysis Tool 1. Introduction NASA’s mission statement clearly spells out the goals “to understand and protect our home planet, to explore the universe and search for life, and to inspire the next generation of explorers…as only NASA can”. Space exploration is an important component of the NASA vision. The success of a mission depends on every single component of the system to be functioning correctly and that the integrated system works correctly as a whole under potentially adverse environments. A mission system is indeed complex and each subsystem (component) needs to be designed and tested carefully. In our work, we focus on space-based networking technologies which involve communication 1 Senior Technical Staff, Communications Networks Group, 4800 Oak Grove Drive M/S 238-343, Pasadena, CA 91109 2 System Engineer, Communications Networks Group, 4800 Oak Grove Drive M/S 238-343, Pasadena, CA 91109 3 System Engineer, Communications Networks Group, 4800 Oak Grove Drive M/S 238-420, Pasadena, CA 91109 SpaceOps 2010 Conference<br> <b><i>Delivering on the Dream</b></i><br> <i>Hosted by NASA Mars 25 - 30 April 2010, Huntsville, Alabama AIAA 2010-2260 Copyright © 2010 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. The U.S. Government has a royalty-free license to exercise all rights under the copyright claimed herein for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner. Downloaded by 34.228.24.229 on June 16, 2020 | http://arc.aiaa.org | DOI: 10.2514/6.2010-2260