PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test methodologies and algorithms supporting trade-off analysis, performance evaluation, and operational concept of large non-geostationary constellations for commercial and secure communications.
The methodologies and algorithms developed shall be applied and tested in a software simulation on a satellite constellation for commercial and secure services.
The envisaged software tool may be used to solve major design challenges such as:
- Radio resource management of secured services;
- Design of layered constellation architectures and mobile terminals across national boundaries;
- Assessment of system performance during different deployment phases;
- Consideration of interference constraints and multi system coexistence;
- Ensuring system compliance to security and international radio regulations;
- Sensitivity analysis in order to derive system design trade-offs.
Features
The focus of this activity lies on the development of a software tool for the design of large-scale satellite constellations for secure communication services.
Main features:
- Support of large non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) multi-layered constellations with a minimum of 500 satellites;
- Easy-to-use user interface as well as visualisation capabilities of the considered system scenario;
- Modelling of the dynamic radio resource management (RRM), medium access control (MAC) and the network layer;
- Modelling of inter-satellite links in the constellation;
- Security and legal constraints considerations with respect to the exchanged traffic in the satellite network.
Challenges
The main challenge is the design of the simulation tool, in order to support the requested product features.
System Architecture
Plan
The project consists of 7 technical work packages, resulting into 4 intermediate milestones and project closure milestone FR (Final Review):
| WP ID | WP Name | Milestone ID |
|---|---|---|
| WP0000 | Define System Scenario | MS01 |
| WP1000 | Finalise Technical Specification | MS01 |
| WP2000 | Select Technical Baseline | MS2 |
| WP3000 | Detailed Design, Detailed Design Verification | MS3 |
| WP4000 | Implementation and Verification Plan | MS4 |
| WP5000 | Implementation and Verification | FR |
| WP6000 | Technology Assessment and Development Plan | FR |
| Milestone ID | Meeting | Date |
|---|---|---|
| KO | Kick-Off Meeting | 2 May 2023 |
| M01 | System Scenario and Technical Specifications Review | 7 November 2023 |
| M2 | Technical Baseline Review | 16 January 2024 |
| M3 | Detailed Design Review | 5 September 2024 |
| M4 | Implementation and Verification Plan Review | 16 December 2024 |
| M5 | Implementation, Verification, Technology Assessment and Development Plan Review | 11 December 2025 |
| FR | Final Review | May 2026 |
| FR | Final Presentation at Space2Connect Conference | TBD |
Current Status
The project was officially kicked-off in 02-May-2023. We are now working on the sixth and seventh packages, WP5000 (Implementation and Verification) and WP6000 (Technology Assessment and Development Plan), with an expected duration until May 2026 for Final Review.
