Cerf also revealed that he has been working on future developments for the internet, taking it beyond the confines of planet Earth. With other researchers he has been developing systems for using the Net to communicate and control space vehicles, including interplanetary landers sent to explore the surface of Mars.
"Up until now we've been using the so-called Deep Space Network to communicate across space with radio signals. What my colleagues and I would like to do is use a version of Internet," he said. He said the problems encountered by the project - such as having to wait 40 minutes for a response from a space vehicle 378km away - were proving awkward, but predicted the system could eventually be used to enhance internet communications. "I want more Internet," he said. "I want every one of the 6 billion people on the planet to be able to connect to the Internet - I think they will add things to it that will really benefit us all."
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