Interstellar Network Proxy Page

A visionary necessity, but currently more of a conceptual framework than a deployable product.

The round-trip light time to Proxima is 8.4 years. A standard command-response cycle (send command, wait for ACK, retransmit on failure) would take decades. With an INP, the probe uses . It bundles all science data, along with a manifest describing how to process it. The Earth-based INP sends intent bundles —not real-time commands—that tell the probe "over the next 6 months, image the planetary surface at these wavelengths." interstellar network proxy

In DTN, data is not “sent” but “custody-transferred.” An INP acts as a custody agent. When a spacecraft sends a 500MB image of Saturn’s rings, the local INP acknowledges receipt immediately (no round trip). It then manages retransmissions across the interplanetary backbone. If a solar flare disrupts the link, the INP holds the bundle until the next window. The sender is free to move on. A visionary necessity, but currently more of a