Intersatellite communication study for low earth orbit satellite network

• Main Author: Gunawan, David
• Other Authors: Erry Gunawan
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68942
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This dissertation aims to study the relationship between intersatellite communication in some configurations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites constellations with the total downlink data sent from the satellites to an earth station. Totally there are six scenarios simulated in this dissertation to give recommendation for the best satellite constellations in terms of the total possible downlink data. It will be useful for application of LEO satellites as earth-imaging satellite with limited visibility period and downlink data image transfer from satellite to an earth station. Specifically, the study will analyze intersatellite communication of two LEO satellites types which are sun-synchronous (980 inclination) and near equatorial (nearly 00 inclination) LEO satellites. Each type of satellite will have three constellation scenarios. In the first scenario, the system will consist of only a LEO satellite and an earth station without intersatellite communication. In the second scenario, a similar type of LEO satellite (same inclination but different right ascension of ascending node) will be added to create an intersatellite communication. Finally in the third scenario, intersatellite communication will consists of two different types of LEO satellites with different inclination. The simulation shows that intersatellite communication in a satellite constellations can increase the total downlink data transfer as compared to a single satellite without intersatellite communication. The best satellite constellation based on the size of the possible data downlink transfer is achieved using a constellation of two near-equatorial LEO satellites. Assumed that the downlink data rate is 9,600 bits per second, this constellation is able to send 142,992 kilobits data in a day. On the other hand, the sun-synchronous LEO satellite configuration achieves the smallest total downlink data transfer which sends 9,409 kilobits data in a day.