# 2.1 Out of this world

The internet is a global wide area network. However, that is not the limit of humanities ambitions.

The interplanetary internet is a network in space. It is intended to connect devices on other planets, orbiters and landers, to each other and back to Earth. Once on Earth, the data can be shared as any other data over the internet.

A major problem with interplanetary communication is the delay caused by interplanetary distances. Hence, a new set of protocols and technology that can tolerate these delays, as well as the increased rate of transmission errors and frequent disconnections, are required.

The next section brings you back closer to home.

OpenLearn - An introduction to computers and computer systems
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