## 7 Conclusions  
The study has corroborated that the architecture designed for Martian exploration through IoT, using satellite constellations that use LoRa communications, is technically feasible and efficient. This is shown in various aspects, such as the range of communication, the transmission speed, the ability to handle the interactions of multiple IoT nodes, and the capacity of satellites to process messages. This determines the permissible density of IoT nodes. The study confirmed that the interaction between the nodes and the orbital satellites is viable, ensuring stable and reliable connectivity. The maximum effective communication distance between the IoT nodes on the surface of Mars and the satellites in orbit has been determined, and the communication periodicity has been based on the satellite revisit cycle. The feasibility of interplanetary communications between Mars and Earth has also been investigated, highlighting the need to understand the dynamics of communication links to ensure the efficiency and reliability of the system. The study also demonstrated the feasibility of implementing an extensive network of IoT nodes on Mars, given that the satellites can process a significant volume of messages during each orbit. Adopting this architecture predicts a substantial advance in the accumulation of Martian data, transcending the current restrictions of space missions and optimizing the interplanetary transmission of information collected by IoT devices that operate under LoRa technology. Finally, there are several areas where future research could be focused. These include the integration, interoperability, and standardization of DTN and LoRa/LoRaWAN; the development of energy management techniques that are suited to the Martian environment; testing for scalability and reliability; the design of advanced interplanetary communication systems; and the atmospheric effects on high-frequency communication. Additionally, there is potential for integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of IoT deployments on Mars.  
Conceptualization and methodology, O.L., J.A.F. and P.L.; software and validation, O.L. and J.A.F.; writing--review and editing, O.L., J.A.F., P.L. and M.R.; visualization, M.A.S.; supervision, P.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, grant number JT-2022-04 (Project: \"Arquitectura y sistema de comunicaciones para la concectividad con nonseatolites de baja orbita\"). Also, it was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under Project MIG-20231006 (\"Disefon de chips innovadores para la primera placa integrada multifunctional de alto rendimiento y bajo consumo energetico en globos estratosfericos\"). Part of this work was supported by EU's H2020 R&D program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101008233 (MISSION project) and the French National Research Agency (ANR) project ANR-22-CE25-0014-01.  
All the materials developed in this work with STK are freely available in the repository: [[https://gitlab.inria.fr/jfraire/earth-mars-link-characterization](https://gitlab.inria.fr/jfraire/earth-mars-link-characterization)]([https://gitlab.inria.fr/jfraire/earth-mars-link-characterization](https://gitlab.inria.fr/jfraire/earth-mars-link-characterization)) (accessed on 17 February 2024).  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.