Leveraging IPv6 and ICMPv6 for Delay-Tolerant Networking in Deep Space

Communications in delay-tolerant networking (DTN) environments like deep space face significant challenges due to immense distances and the intermittent nature of links. Overcoming these issues requires moving beyond the assumptions of immediacy and reliability that underpin traditional terrestrial Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Historically, deep-space networks have relied on custom architectures or protocols like the Bundle Protocol (BP) to address these challenges; however, such solutions impose the constraint that nodes must implement the chosen protocol for proper operation, thereby not providing interoperability with standard IP-based nodes. This paper proposes an alternative approach, leveraging innovations in IP version 6 (IPv6) and Internet Control Message Protocol version 6 (ICMPv6) to integrate delay-tolerant features directly at Layer 3. By embedding these functionalities within the existing IPv6 framework, the proposed IP-compliant solution enhances interoperability, with terrestrial networks enabling DTN nodes to seamlessly communicate with compliant IPv6 nodes. This study provides a detailed comparison of the capabilities of IPv6 and BP version 7, highlighting gaps and opportunities. Based on this analysis, a node architecture is designed to implement the necessary functionalities for DTN, paving the way for more seamless integration of deep-space and terrestrial networks while reducing complexity and improving scalability.