Constellation design and performance simulation of LEO satellite communication system

Abstract

LEO satellite communication weighs more and more in communication system now and future. Since different types of constellations have rather different performances in coverage ability and inter-satellite link (ISL) building conditions, a polar and an inclined circular low orbit constellation were designed in this work. Coverage ability and ISL performances of constellations were simulated by STK while delay, throughput and jitter of satellite network were simulated by NS2. The results of simulations were compared and analyzed which indicates that, in a constellation with 32 satellites (orbit altitude 1450km), polar orbit constellation is more suitable to build global LEO satellite communication system than inclined circular orbit because of its nicer performance in global coverage, ISL building conditions and network identity. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.