In February the chapter hosted Dr. Klaus-Peter Dörpelkus, space initiatives manager EMEA, Cisco Systems Global Defence, Space and Security, to discuss Internet Protocol in space. After geostationary communication satellites with transponders have been in space for more than 30 years, technological advances in microelectronics now allow the deployment of switch functionality into space. The vision: the Internet in space. According to Doerpelkus, Cisco Systems, a producer of Ethernet switches and IP routers, teamed with a British satellite manufacturer to create CLEO (Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit). CLEO is a low-orbit mini satellite with an integrated commercial router prepared for space with minor hardware modifications. Doerpelkus acquainted the AFCEANs with the concept and mission, saying that the results are encouraging for further plans like an embedded IP-routing segment in space, which would offer opportunities for network-centric military operations and also for civil and commercial satellite applications.

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