GTD has been awarded an 18-month contract by the European Space Agency related to the implementation and validation on a virtualised testbed the latest Bundle Protocol and the Bundle Protocol Security specification, addressing also operational concerns and challenges. The project will also validate its use on two realistic proof of concept applications (Lunar and EO Communications) and identify issues and recommendations that can be provided to the standardization workgroups. GTD will contribute to the project in a consortium with i2CAT and RDI Network. The CCSDS Bundle Protocol Specification is a key component to realize next generation Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) store-and-forward capabilities in space networks and it is part of the protocol stack foreseen for next generation exploration missions of ESA. Securing a DTN requires to consider network physical properties, multiple topologies, policies at each node, and various security requirements. There are numerous challenges associated to the Bundle Protocol, such as the node authentication, anti-replay mechanisms, key management, context, service and policy management and overall monitoring and control in a distributed network of nodes scenario, integrity checks across waypoints, protocol data overheads and associated trade-offs, etc. GTD will focus in all software engineering related aspects, strengthening the firm’s position as a software system engineering company.
