Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study
A satellite internet provider (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, O3b mPOWR), despite possessing the capability to provide internet services to on-ground users in a global scale, can dramatically change the way space missions are designed and operated in the foreseeable future. Assuming a scenario where space...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communications and Networks |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2024.1356484/full |
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| author | Houcine Chougrani Oltjon Kodheli Ali Georganaki Jan Thoemel Chiara Vittoria Turtoro Frank Zeppenfeldt Petros Pissias Mahulena Hofmann Symeon Chatzinotas |
| author_facet | Houcine Chougrani Oltjon Kodheli Ali Georganaki Jan Thoemel Chiara Vittoria Turtoro Frank Zeppenfeldt Petros Pissias Mahulena Hofmann Symeon Chatzinotas |
| author_sort | Houcine Chougrani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A satellite internet provider (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, O3b mPOWR), despite possessing the capability to provide internet services to on-ground users in a global scale, can dramatically change the way space missions are designed and operated in the foreseeable future. Assuming a scenario where space mission satellites can access the internet via a space internet system, the satellite can be connected to the network permanently (24 × 7) and act as mere terminal independently from its location. The ability to communicate with the satellite on-demand has the potential to improve aspects such as real-time tasking, outage minimization, operation cost, and dependency on the ground. This paper performs a feasibility study on the concept of connecting space missions to the network through commercial mega-constellations. This study includes a review of existing and near-future space internet systems, identification of candidate space missions for the aforementioned concept, a necessary adaptation of existing Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) terminals to be plugged into space mission satellites, assessment of communication performance, and investigation of the legal aspects of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum usage. The paper evidences that the concept is practically possible to implement in the near future. Among the studied space internet systems (i.e., Starlink, OneWeb, O3b mPOWER), O3b mPOWER stands out as the most suitable system allowing permanent coverage of low earth orbit (LEO) space missions with data rates that can reach up to 21 Mbps per satellite. Although the concept is very promising and can be implemented in the near future, our investigations show that some regulatory aspects regarding the RF usage should be solved for future exploitation of connecting space missions through NGSO (Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit) constellations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:42:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35f0136cbec24fc2807d0629b2a090d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-530X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:42:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Communications and Networks |
| spelling | doaj.art-35f0136cbec24fc2807d0629b2a090d02024-02-26T04:51:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communications and Networks2673-530X2024-02-01510.3389/frcmn.2024.13564841356484Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility studyHoucine Chougrani0Oltjon Kodheli1Ali Georganaki2Jan Thoemel3Chiara Vittoria Turtoro4Frank Zeppenfeldt5Petros Pissias6Mahulena Hofmann7Symeon Chatzinotas8Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LuxembourgSociété Européenne des Satellites, SES S.A., Betzdolf, LuxembourgInterdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LuxembourgInterdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LuxembourgSociété Européenne des Satellites, SES S.A., Betzdolf, LuxembourgEuropean Space Agency (ESA), Paris, FranceEuropean Space Agency (ESA), Paris, FranceInterdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LuxembourgInterdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LuxembourgA satellite internet provider (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, O3b mPOWR), despite possessing the capability to provide internet services to on-ground users in a global scale, can dramatically change the way space missions are designed and operated in the foreseeable future. Assuming a scenario where space mission satellites can access the internet via a space internet system, the satellite can be connected to the network permanently (24 × 7) and act as mere terminal independently from its location. The ability to communicate with the satellite on-demand has the potential to improve aspects such as real-time tasking, outage minimization, operation cost, and dependency on the ground. This paper performs a feasibility study on the concept of connecting space missions to the network through commercial mega-constellations. This study includes a review of existing and near-future space internet systems, identification of candidate space missions for the aforementioned concept, a necessary adaptation of existing Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) terminals to be plugged into space mission satellites, assessment of communication performance, and investigation of the legal aspects of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum usage. The paper evidences that the concept is practically possible to implement in the near future. Among the studied space internet systems (i.e., Starlink, OneWeb, O3b mPOWER), O3b mPOWER stands out as the most suitable system allowing permanent coverage of low earth orbit (LEO) space missions with data rates that can reach up to 21 Mbps per satellite. Although the concept is very promising and can be implemented in the near future, our investigations show that some regulatory aspects regarding the RF usage should be solved for future exploitation of connecting space missions through NGSO (Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit) constellations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2024.1356484/fullsatellite internet providerspace missionStarlinkOneWebO3b mPOWERLEO |
| spellingShingle | Houcine Chougrani Oltjon Kodheli Ali Georganaki Jan Thoemel Chiara Vittoria Turtoro Frank Zeppenfeldt Petros Pissias Mahulena Hofmann Symeon Chatzinotas Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study Frontiers in Communications and Networks satellite internet provider space mission Starlink OneWeb O3b mPOWER LEO |
| title | Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study |
| title_full | Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study |
| title_fullStr | Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study |
| title_short | Connecting space missions through NGSO constellations: feasibility study |
| title_sort | connecting space missions through ngso constellations feasibility study |
| topic | satellite internet provider space mission Starlink OneWeb O3b mPOWER LEO |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcmn.2024.1356484/full |
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