Large Constellations of Small Satellites: A Survey of Near Future Challenges and Missions

Abstract

Constellations of satellites are being proposed in large numbers; most of them are expected to be in orbit within the next decade. They will provide communication to unserved and underserved communities, enable global monitoring of Earth and enhance space observation. Mostly enabled by technology miniaturization, satellite constellations require a coordinated effort to face the technological limits in spacecraft operations and space traffic. At the moment in fact, no cost-effective infrastructure is available to withstand coordinated flight of large fleets of satellites. In order for large constellations to be sustainable, there is the need to efficiently integrate and use them in the current space framework. This review paper provides an overview of the available experience in constellation operations and statistical trends about upcoming constellations at the moment of writing. It highlights also the tools most often proposed in the analyzed works to overcome constellation management issues, such as applications of machine learning/artificial intelligence and resource/infrastructure sharing. As such, it is intended to be a useful resource for both identifying emerging trends in satellite constellations, and enabling technologies still requiring substantial development efforts.

Spectral Efficiency Improvement of 5G Massive MIMO Systems for High-Altitude Platform Stations by Using Triangular Lattice Arrays

“…Moreover, thanks to their rapid deployment, HAPSs can assist in readily deploying communication networks after catastrophic events, such as earthquakes [ 22 , 23 ]. Furthermore, HAPSs can act as reliable relays between terrestrial users and CubeSats [ 24 , 25 ]—low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites—in order to form an airborne communication network (ACN) [ 26 , 27 ].…”

New modeling approach of laser communication in constellation and through atmospheric disturbances

“…M. Toyoshima [10] introduces the trends of space laser communications for constellations. G. Curzi et al [11] the author aim at the perspective of matching technical needs and technology availability for large constellations, while providing at the same time a detailed survey of the up coming satellite constellations, By introducing a representative list of RSSC missions, I. Sanad et al [12] provides an overview of what is currently understood about satellites networks configurations and orbit types used for satellite remote sensing constellation (RSSC) missions. The work in [13] establish a model for a trusted device quantum key distribution (QKD) spacecraft in low earth orbit (LEO) and test its efficacy in various network configurations examine the importance of inter-satellite QKD connections in addition.…”

Dynamic Mapping of Subarctic Surface Water by Fusion of Microwave and Optical Satellite Data Using Conditional Adversarial Networks

“…Monitoring with both spatially and temporally fine resolution using a single satellite sensor is generally challenging, owing to technical and financial limitations [17]. Progress involving a large constellation of optical microsatellites [18] may provide spatiotemporally fine-resolution datasets, except in areas frequently obscured by dense cloud cover. However, geometric-and radiometric-calibration activities for each sensor and between sensors are still in progress [19], and their uncertainty is likely to be too large to precisely observe land-surface properties.…”