Even as wireless-industry watchers debate whether Wi-Fi technology will be long for this Earth, the Wi-Fi business is preparing to send its wireless communication technology to another planet. Tropos Networks Inc. has been participating in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research on the feasibility of interplanetary exploration, a hot topic as the government unveils new plans for a manned mission to the moon and deliberates the possibility of a manned mission to Mars. NASA chose Wi-Fi technology as the primary communications system for use by astronauts potentially exploring and inhabiting other planets for its research project.