The NASA QoS Testbed (QBed) is a multi-site WAN and LAN based testbed network dedicated to prototyping emerging network QoS technologies and as a testbed supporting the development of next generation internet applications. It is a collaborative venture primarily between the NASA Research and Engineering Network (NREN) and the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Network Prototyping Laboratory, along with other participating NASA network laboratories. Currently, there are two external partners, The University College London and the Broadband and Wireless Networking Laboratory of Georgia Tech.

Currently the activities within the NASA QBed include:

1. deploying research-grade and commercial DiffServ-capable QoS products
2. developing QoS performance and diagnostic tools
3. using DiffServ QoS to mitigate delay and jitter
4. delivering high-rate satellite data over terrestrial networks
5. examining IP-to-ATM class of service mappings
6. surveying solutions for IntServ and DiffServ QoS to ATM QoS delivery

NASA's future activities will be tightly coupled with other members within the Internet2 community. Members of this community have close working relationships with NASA as principal investigators or members of instrument teams for science missions on board NASA spacecraft. Most of these scientists are located at government or academic institutions served by the Internet2 backbone networks. It is important that NASA stay current with emerging next generation internet applications and network services in support of advanced applications in science and the human exploration of space.