This industry-government collaboration is developing technology for conducting military communications through an Internet router in space, but the technology may eventually move into the private sector, as well. The IRIS satellite will route IP packets directly from the source to the destination, eliminating all intermediate surface nodes and requiring only one round trip to the satellite. Compared to existing satellite Internet systems, IRIS will reduce latency, simplify the system, improve reliability, and lower overall maintenance costs.

Comsat Labs, tapped by program contractor Intelsat, is developing the PSIM modem to share routing functions with a CISCO router on board the IRIS spacecraft. In addition CISCO has contracted Comsat Labs for additional spacecraft integration.

The IRIS program will serve as a computer processor in the sky, merging communications being received on various frequency bands and transmitting them to multiple users based on data instructions embedded in the uplink. The ability to route IP (Internet Protocol) traffic between satellites in space in much the same way packets are moved on the ground, can reduce delays, save on capacity, and increase networking flexibility.

The payload will support network services for voice, video and data communications, enabling military units or allied forces to communicate with one another using Internet protocol and existing ground equipment.

The satellite is set to launch in the first quarter of 2009.