Abstract
The popular Internet Protocol (IPv4) has been used operationally in space on the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) satellites for remote sensing tasks since 2003. The UK-DMC satellite carries the Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit (CLEO) as an experimental payload, and use of IPv4 with CLEO and to command and control the UK-DMC satellite was demonstrated in 2004. As a commercial Internet router, CLEO is also capable of using the newer IPv6 protocol, and of securing communications using IPsec. We describe our experiences in using IPv6 and IPsec onboard this satellite, and as part of a larger merged space/ground infrastructure built around use of the Internet Protocol. This is the first time that IPsec and IPv6 have been operated onboard a satellite in orbit.