Mountain View (CA) - A team of engineers at California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says standards for widespread space communications will be ready within three years.

Google vice president and ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) chair Vinton Cerf is one of the people pushing for the galactic system.

"Finally, the Internet can take us where no network has gone before," said Cerf in a press conference, according to an Associated Press quote.  "This effort is now bearing fruit and is on track to be space qualified and standardized in the 2010 time frame."

Cerf is working with a group of scientists at the Jet Propulsion Lab, says the initial purpose will be for greater communication in government projects.  "Eventually we will accumulate an interplanetary backbone to assist robotic and manned missions with robust communication," he said.

Cerf also talked about the state of ICANN standards, saying that by early next year he expects users in Japan, Russia, and other countries will be able to create domain addresses in their native language.  "Sometime in the first half of 2008, I expect, there will be opportunities to register IDNs using different languages other than Latin," he said.

Awesome!

Oct 17, 2007 08:33     

"Hold on, I just need to send this email to my dad. He's on the moon today."
Rick Hodgin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How about Earth?

Oct 17, 2007 09:39     

So... they are working on intr-planet connection but I still can't live in the middle of the mountains and have a decenent internet connection?? Hint: I want to move out of the city and still have broadband internet connection. Satelite sucks, cmon invent something for MEEE!
John Doe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Awesome!

Oct 17, 2007 09:54     

No, give him a skype call =D
eeto report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Um, latency?

Oct 17, 2007 10:26     

I don't think setting web request timeouts to 42 minutes for people on Mars is likely to happen. Unless we employ quantum mechanics in communications! That's the real breakthrough that will bring the Internet to other planets. Then all we need to do is bring people to other planets. I don't think robots will be browsing YouTube anytime soon.
Shaun report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Why re-invent the wheel?

Oct 17, 2007 14:40     

All you need is a Speak 'n' Spell, a circular saw blade, an umbrella, and a few other household items, and you are all set.
El-ee-ut report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Latency solved

Oct 18, 2007 20:40     

Latency? Great Scott! All you need is to boost the power to 1.21 gigawatts using the latest transmitter system employing twin turbos on 16 cylinders, 32 chrome carburetors, jet engine on the differential, IBM Blue Gene under the hood, and a flux capacitor in the back.
Tim "Doc Brown" Allen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Hmm

Oct 22, 2007 02:34     

You know what would be a better use of resources at this time? Actually finishing the 802.11n Draft... although I do acknowledge that's IEEE's realm of responsibility.
Ande report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0