A Parallel Discrete Event Simulation Engine for the Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Constellation Networks

Low-Earth-Orbit satellite constellation networks(LEO-SCN)can provide low-cost,largescale,flexible coverage wireless communication services.High dynamics and large topological sizes characterize LEO-SCN.Protocol development and application testing of LEO-SCN are challenging to carry out in a natural environment.Simulation platforms are a more effective means of technology demonstration.Currently available simulators have a single function and limited simulation scale.There needs to be a simulator for full-featured simulation.In this paper,we apply the parallel discrete-event simulation technique to the simulation of LEO-SCN to support large-scale complex system simulation at the packet level.To solve the problem that single-process programs cannot cope with complex simulations containing numerous entities,we propose a parallel mechanism and algorithms LP-NM and LP-YAWNS for synchronization.In the experiment,we use ns-3 to verify the acceleration ratio and efficiency of the above algorithms.The results show that our proposed mechanism can provide parallel simulation engine support for the LEO-SCN.

Spacecraft potential variations of the Swarm satellites at low Earth orbital altitudes

In this study, we provide the first detailed analysis of variations in the spacecraft potential (Vs) of the three Swarm satellites, which are flying at about 400-500 km. Unlike previous studies that have investigated extreme charging events, usually with spacecraft potentials as negative as −100 V, this study is focused on variations of Swarm Vs readings, which fall within a few negative volts. The Swarm observations show that spacecraft at low Earth orbital (LEO) altitudes are charged only slightly negatively, varying between −7 V and 0 V, with the majority of recorded potentials at these altitudes clustering close to −2 V. However, a second peak of Vs data is found at −5.5 V, though the event numbers for these more-negative observations are less, by an order of magnitude, than for incidents near the −2 V peak. These two distinct Vs peaks suggest two different causes. We have thus divided the Swarm spacecraft Vs data into two categories: less-negatively charged (−5 < Vs < 0 V) and more-negatively-charged (−6.5 < Vs < −5 V). These two Vs categories exhibit different spatial and temporal distributions. The Vs observations in the first category remain relatively closer to 0 V above the magnetic equator, but become much more negative at low and middle latitudes on the day side;at high latitudes, these first-category Vs readings are relatively more-negative during local summer. Second-category Vs events cluster into two bands at the middle latitudes (between ±20°-50° magnetic latitude), but with slightly more negative readings at the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region;at high latitudes, these rarer but more-negative second-category Vs events exhibit relatively more-negative values during local winter, which is opposite to the seasonal pattern seen in the first category. By comparing Vs data to the distributions of background plasma density at Swarm altitudes, we find for the first category that more-negative Vs readings are recorded at regions with higher background plasma density, while for the second category the more-negative Vs data are observed at regions with lower background plasma density. This can be explained as follows: the electron and ion fluxes incident on Swarm surface, whose differences determine the potential of Swarm, are dominated by the background “cold” plasma (due to ionization) and “hot” plasma (due to precipitated particles from magnetosphere) for the two Vs categories, respectively.

HOI延迟对LEO卫星简化动力学POD的影响

通常使用无电离层(IF)线性组合(LC)消除低地球轨道(LEO)卫星简化动力学精密定轨(POD)一阶电离层延迟误差,忽略了高阶电离层(HOI)延迟误差。随着LEO卫星POD技术的发展,计算不同轨道高度的HOI延迟并探索其变化已成为进一步提高POD精度的重要手段。首先,使用国际参考电离层-2016(IRI-2016)和国际地磁参考场第13代(IGRF-13)模型,计算电离层穿刺点(IPP)位置和地磁场强度。其次,使用平滑星载GNSS数据计算电离层斜路径总电子含量(STEC)。然后,分别计算GOCE、GRACE-A和SWARM-A/B卫星的二阶和三阶电离层延迟。最后,评估了HOI延迟对LEO卫星重叠轨道分析、卫星激光测距(SLR)检核和精密科学轨道(PSO)比较结果的影响。实验结果表明:HOI延迟对LEO卫星简化动力学POD的影响大约在毫米至厘米的数量级上;HOI延迟对LEO卫星简化动力学POD外符合精度的影响分别达到0.92,0.22,0.21和0.18 mm;随着LEO卫星轨道高度的增加,HOI延迟对LEO卫星简化动力学POD的影响减小。

机载导航设备辅助的LEO卫星定位方法与仿真验证

复杂电磁环境下全球导航卫星系统(GNSS)容易被欺骗和干扰导致不可使用,而近地轨道(LEO)通导一体化卫星系统具有落地功率高和星座几何形状变化快的优势,是一种很好的应急备份导航源。但大多数LEO卫星系统在中低纬度地区可见卫星的数量仅有1~2颗,无法实现实时动态定位。因此,提出一种基于机载惯性导航系统(INS)、气压计辅助的组合定位算法,将INS、气压计当作伪卫星使用,通过配置原子钟联合来解决可观性不足的问题。所提算法利用LEO卫星观测数据修正INS的误差,同时针对可观性不能定量分析的问题提出一种衡量滤波器稳定的可估计性指标。仿真验证表明:所提算法利用LEO观测数据在9 min内将INS误差降低了60%左右,定位误差达到50 m以下,能够实现实时、稳定定位,提出的可估计性指标也能够衡量系统的稳定性。

Information gain based sensor search scheduling for low-earth orbit constellation estimation

This paper addresses the problem of sensor search scheduling in the complicated space environment faced by the low-earth orbit constellation.Several search scheduling methods based on the commonly used information gain are compared via simulations first.Then a novel search scheduling method in the scenarios of uncertainty observation is proposed based on the global Shannon information gain and beta density based uncertainty model.Simulation results indicate that the beta density model serves a good option for solving the problem of target acquisition in the complicated space environments.

Delay-optimal multi-satellite collaborative computation offloading supported by OISL in LEO satellite network

By deploying the ubiquitous and reliable coverage of low Earth orbit(LEO)satellite networks using optical inter satel-lite link(OISL),computation offloading services can be provided for any users without proximal servers,while the resource limita-tion of both computation and storage on satellites is the impor-tant factor affecting the maximum task completion time.In this paper,we study a delay-optimal multi-satellite collaborative computation offloading scheme that allows satellites to actively migrate tasks among themselves by employing the high-speed OISLs,such that tasks with long queuing delay will be served as quickly as possible by utilizing idle computation resources in the neighborhood.To satisfy the delay requirement of delay-sensi-tive task,we first propose a deadline-aware task scheduling scheme in which a priority model is constructed to sort the order of tasks being served based on its deadline,and then a delay-optimal collaborative offloading scheme is derived such that the tasks which cannot be completed locally can be migrated to other idle satellites.Simulation results demonstrate the effective-ness of our multi-satellite collaborative computation offloading strategy in reducing task complement time and improving resource utilization of the LEO satellite network.

Survivability model of LEO satellite constellation based on GERT with limited backup resources

Survivability is used to evaluate the ability of the satellite to complete the mission after failure,while the duration of maintaining performance is often ignored.An effective backup strategy can restore the constellation performance timely,and maintain good network communication performance in case of satellite failure.From the perspective of network utility,the low Earth orbit(LEO)satellite constellation survivable graphical eva-luation and review technology(GERT)network with backup satel-lites is constructed.A network utility transfer function algorithm based on moment generating function and Mason formula is proposed,the network survivability evaluation models of on-orbit backup strategy and ground backup strategy are established.The survivable GERT model can deduce the expected mainte-nance time of LEO satellite constellation under different fault states and the network utility generated during the state mainte-nance period.The case analysis shows that the proposed surviv-able GERT model can consider the satellite failure rate,backup satellite replacement rate,maneuver control replacement ability and life requirement,and effectively determine the optimal sur-vivable backup strategy for LEO satellite constellation with limi-ted resources according to the expected network utility.

LEO卫星通信终端的RTT定位技术

低地球轨道(LEO)卫星通信互联网是未来满足万物智联、天空地一体化网络连接的6G移动通信网络重要组成部分。LEO卫星通信终端的移动性管理是LEO卫星网络运行管理的基本功能,而获取卫星终端的位置是实现移动性管理的基础。目前,全球卫星导航系统(GNSS)能够提供比较高的定位精度,但是当GNSS位置服务在受到环境遮蔽、外部干扰时可能失效,因此卫星通信终端需要一种独立于外部GNSS服务的自主定位方案。以未来LEO卫星互联网的通信信号为背景,提出一种基于往返时延(Round Trip Time,RTT)测量的LEO卫星通信终端自主定位体制,对OFDM卫星互联网信号的时延估计算法精度以及定位误差进行了理论计算和数字仿真,获得了本定位方案的均方根误差(RMSE)和几何稀度因子(GDOP),计算结果表明可以实现百米量级的快速定位,满足了移动性管理所需的千米量级位置信息的应用需求。

Dynamic access task scheduling of LEO constellation based on space-based distributed computing

A dynamic multi-beam resource allocation algorithm for large low Earth orbit(LEO)constellation based on on-board distributed computing is proposed in this paper.The allocation is a combinatorial optimization process under a series of complex constraints,which is important for enhancing the matching between resources and requirements.A complex algorithm is not available because that the LEO on-board resources is limi-ted.The proposed genetic algorithm(GA)based on two-dimen-sional individual model and uncorrelated single paternal inheri-tance method is designed to support distributed computation to enhance the feasibility of on-board application.A distributed system composed of eight embedded devices is built to verify the algorithm.A typical scenario is built in the system to evalu-ate the resource allocation process,algorithm mathematical model,trigger strategy,and distributed computation architec-ture.According to the simulation and measurement results,the proposed algorithm can provide an allocation result for more than 1500 tasks in 14 s and the success rate is more than 91%in a typical scene.The response time is decreased by 40%com-pared with the conditional GA.

Atmospheric Remnants in the Low Earth Orbit Region around 200 km Altitude

Study of atmospheric remnants in the low Earth orbit region (~200 km altitude) using Global Models, with application to electric thrusters of in situ resources utilization type.

WITHDRAWN: High-Resolution Radiometer for Remote Sensing of Solar Flare Activity from Low Earth Orbit Satellites

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Design of low-energy transfer from lunar orbit to asteroid in the Sun-Earth-Moon system

Asteroid exploration trajectories which start from a lunar orbit are investigated in this work.It is assumed that the probe departs from lunar orbit and returns to the vicinity of Earth,then escapes from the Earth by performing a perigee maneuver.A low-energy transfer in Sun-EarthMoon system is adopted.First,the feasible region of lowenergy transfer from lunar orbit to perigee within 5 000 km height above the Earth surface in Sun-Earth-Moon system is calculated and analyzed.Three transfer types are found,i.e.,large maneuver and fast transfers,small maneuver and fast transfers,and disordered and slow transfers.Most of feasibility trajectories belong to the first two types.Then,the lowenergy trajectory leg from lunar orbit to perigee and a heliocentric trajectory leg from perigee to asteroid are patched by a perigee maneuver.The optimal full-transfer trajectory is obtained by exploiting the differential evolution algorithm.Finally,taking 4179 Toutatis asteroid as the target,some low-energy transfer trajectories are obtained and analyzed.

Precise orbit determination for low Earth orbit satellites using GNSS:Observations,models,and methods

Spaceborne global navigation satellite system(GNSS)has significantly revolutionized the development of autonomous orbit determination techniques for low Earth orbit satellites for decades.Using a state-of-the-art combination of GNSS observations and satellite dynamics,the absolute orbit determination for a single satellite reached a precision of 1 cm.Relative orbit determination(i.e.,precise baseline determination)for the dual satellites reached a precision of 1 mm.This paper reviews the recent advancements in GNSS products,observation processing,satellite gravitational and non-gravitational force modeling,and precise orbit determination methods.These key aspects have increased the precision of the orbit determination to fulfill the requirements of various scientific objectives.Finally,recommendations are made to further investigate multi-GNSS combinations,satellite high-fidelity geometric models,geometric offset calibration,and comprehensive orbit determination strategies for satellite constellations.

LEO增强的GPS、Galileo、BDS-3非差PPP模糊度固定性能分析

本文主要研究了GPS、Galileo、北斗三号(BeiDou-3 Global Satellite Navigation System,BDS-3)的未校准相位延迟(uncalibrated phase delays,UPD)稳定性以及低地球轨道(low earth orbit,LEO)增强的非差精密单点定位(precise point positioning,PPP)模糊度固定.基于全球分布的126个测站2022年001—007共一周的观测数据进行GPS、Galileo、BDS-3的UPD估计分析.宽巷UPD每天作为一组常数估计,窄巷UPD每15 min作为一组常数估计.结果表明:宽巷UPD在一周之内具有较好的稳定性,平均标准差小于0.05周;窄巷UPD在一天之内具有较好的稳定性,平均标准差小于0.06周.使用估计的UPD产品进行PPP模糊度固定并对其性能进行分析,GPS、Galileo、 BDS-3各系统静态PPP的平均收敛时间分别由20.75 min、 23.78 min、 30.60 min缩短至10.69 min、18.27 min、24.80 min;平均模糊度固定率分别为90.41%、77.22%、67.21%;东(east,E)、北(north,N)、天顶(up,U)三个方向均方根误差(root mean square error,RMSE)的平均值分别由(1.59 cm、0.91 cm、3.30 cm)、(1.58 cm、0.93 cm、3.24 cm)、(1.61 cm、0.98 cm、3.39 cm)减小至(0.90 cm、0.89 cm、2.98 cm)、(1.33 cm、0.85 cm、2.90 cm)、(1.47 cm、1.18 cm、2.94 cm).利用仿真的LEO星座观测数据,研究不同LEO卫星数量的增强效果,当LEO可视卫星数量愈多时,增强效果愈加显著,当LEO可视卫星数量为10颗时,GPS、Galileo、BDS-3各系统的静态PPP固定解的平均收敛时间分别由10.69 min、18.27 min、24.80 min缩短至1.53 min、1.71 min、1.94 min;模糊度固定率分别由90.41%、77.22%、67.51%提高至93.43%、79.99%、72.00%.

利用LEO卫星的最小误差矢量合成定位算法

针对利用低地球轨道(LEO)卫星信号进行多普勒定位时,由于缺乏定位误差矢量相关研究而使定位精度较差的问题,对多普勒定位误差矢量特性进行系统性的分析并提出一种最小定位误差矢量合成优化算法:以初始定位结果为中心划定区域网格,计算依次去除各颗卫星后定位误差向量在该卫星速度方向上的投影误差模之和;遍历所有网格,搜索投影误差模之和最大的位置网格作为优化的定位结果。实验结果表明:提出的算法的定位结果误差均值与均方根误差(RMSE)均有减小,其三维定位精度可提升40%以上。

Beam Position and Beam Hopping Design for LEO Satellite Communications

The numbers of beam positions(BPs)and time slots for beam hopping(BH)dominate the latency of LEO satellite communications.Aiming at minimizing the number of BPs subject to a predefined requirement on the radius of BP,a low-complexity user density-based BP design scheme is proposed,where the original problem is decomposed into two subproblems,with the first one to find the sparsest user and the second one to determine the corresponding best BP.In particular,for the second subproblem,a user selection and smallest BP radius algorithm is proposed,where the nearby users are sequentially selected until the constraint of the given BP radius is no longer satisfied.These two subproblems are iteratively solved until all the users are selected.To further reduce the BP radius,a duplicated user removal algorithm is proposed to decrease the number of the users covered by two or more BPs.Aiming at minimizing the number of time slots subject to the no co-channel interference(CCI)constraint and the traffic demand constraint,a low-complexity CCI-free BH design scheme is proposed,where the BPs having difficulty in satisfying the constraints are considered to be illuminated in priory.Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.

Resource allocation for uplink grant-free access in beam-hopping based LEO satellite systems

The low earth orbit(LEO) satellite system provides a promising solution for the global coverage of Internet of Things(IoT) services.Confronted with the sporadic uplink transmission from massive IoT terminals, this work investigates the grant-free access scheme and resource allocation algorithm for the beam-hopping(BH) based LEO satellite systems.To improve the packet success rate, the time slots are pre-allocated to each cell according to the number of terrestrial terminals and the probability of packet arrival.When the packets arrive, the terrestrial terminals perform contention-free or contention-based grant-free access with packet repetition in the time slots allocated to their cells.The analytical expression of the packet collision probability for the grant-free access scheme is derived to provide reference for the resource allocation.To reduce the computational complexity, a heuristic resource allocation algorithm is proposed to minimize the maximum cell packet collision probability in the system.Simulation results show that the proposed resource allocation scheme achieves lower packet collision probability and higher resource utilization ratio when compared with the uniform resource allocation scheme.

Low Altitude Satellite Constellation for Futuristic Aerial-Ground Communications

This paper discusses the significance and prospects of low altitude small satellite aerial vehicles to ensure smooth aerial-ground communications for next-generation broadband networks.To achieve the generic goals of fifthgeneration and beyondwireless networks,the existing aerial network architecture needs to be revisited.The detailed architecture of low altitude aerial networks and the challenges in resource management have been illustrated in this paper.Moreover,we have studied the coordination between promising communication technologies and low altitude aerial networks to provide robust network coverage.We talk about the techniques that can ensure userfriendly control and monitoring of the low altitude aerial networks to bring forth wireless broadband connectivity to a new dimension.In the end,we highlight the future research directions of aerial-ground communications in terms of access technologies,machine learning,compressed sensing,and quantum communications.

手机直连低轨卫星的应用场景及业务需求分析

手机直连卫星是低轨(low earth orbiting,LEO)星座系统的重要应用方向之一。概述了手机直连卫星的主要技术路线、应用场景及业务类型;分析了低轨星座的建设成本、承载能力、运营收入;提出了我国手机直连卫星通信的主要应用应以广覆盖、海量连接为主,而卫星大流量宽带上网应用存在商业闭环的风险;最后探讨了结合应用需求的技术发展建议。

利用遗传算法实现低倾角卫星星座优化设计

针对热点区域的多重覆盖问题,采用回归圆轨道的共星下点轨迹星座方案,提出基于遗传算法求解单颗卫星轨道参数、利用简单解析公式求解星座轨道参数的方法。首先,建立了回归轨道热点区域多重覆盖模型;其次,以卫星一个回归周期内覆盖时间最长为性能指标,首颗卫星轨道根数利用遗传算法可优化求取;最后,根据星下点轨迹重合这一约束条件设计星座构型,并利用各卫星间几何关系求解各卫星的轨道根数。理论分析和仿真结果表明,该方法简单且易于实现,设计结果正确,可实现回归周期内同一卫星星下点轨迹多次覆盖目标,星座使用卫星少、覆盖频率高,具有较好的工程应用价值。