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.

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.

Starlink下行信号的多普勒效应影响分析

准确描述多普勒效应对星链(Starlink)传输性能的影响是理解其独特物理层结构的重要前提,为解决这一问题,首先,建立了星地相对运动下的多普勒效应模型并给出Starlink的最大多普勒效应参数;然后,基于Starlink下行信号的时频域结构和参数建立多普勒效应下的信号模型;最后,对下行信号中的3种主要组成部分分别建立多普勒效应下的时频域理论特征。通过仿真验证理论结果的正确性,以期为其他现有和将要部署的低轨道地球卫星通信系统的传输可靠性研究提供一定的参考。

GNSS rapid precise point positioning enhanced by low Earth orbit satellites

The Low Earth Orbit(LEO)satellites can be used to efectively speed up Precise Point Positioning(PPP)convergence.In this study,180 LEO satellites with a global distribution are simulated to evaluate their contribution to the PPP convergence.LEO satellites can give more redundant observations and improve satellite geometric distributions,particularly for a single Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS).The convergence speed of the PPP foat solution using the Global Positioning System(GPS,G)or BeiDou Navigation Satellite System(BDS,C)single system as well as the G/C/Galileo navigation satellite system(Galileo,E)/GLObal NAvigation Satellite System(GLONASS,R)combined system with LEO satellites added is improved by 90.0%,91.0%,and 90.7%,respectively,with respect to the system without LEO satellites added.We introduced LEO observations to assist GNSS in PPP-AR(Ambiguity Resolution)and PPP-RTK(Real Time Kinematic).The success fx rate of a single system is signifcantly improved,and the Time-To-First-Fix(TTFF)of G and G/C/E is reduced by 86.4%and 82.8%,respectively,for the PPP-AR solution.We analyzed the positioning performance of LEO satellite assisted G/C/E PPP-RTK in the reference networks of diferent scales,namely diferent atmospheric delay interpolation accuracies.The success fx rate of the G/C/E combined system is improved from 86.8 to 94.9%,and the TTFF is reduced by 36.8%,with the addition of LEO satellites in the 57 km reference network.In the 110 km reference network,the success fx rate of the G/C/E combined system is improved from 64.0 to 88.6%,and the TTFF is reduced by 32.1%.GNSS PPP-RTK with adding the LEO satellites in the reference networks of diferent scales shows obvious improvement because the atmospheric correlation decreases with increasing distance from the reference networks.

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.

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.

广播星历旋转误差对低轨星载BDS-3/GPS实时精密定轨影响分析

基于LT-01A卫星星载BDS-3/GPS观测值进行了星载实时精密定轨研究,并重点分析了广播星历旋转误差对实时定轨精度的影响。通过赫尔默特转换评估了所选时段内GPS和BDS-3广播星历轨道旋转误差,显示BDS-3广播星历旋转误差可达-8.7 mas,平均量级较GPS大约2.5倍。BDS-3广播星历经旋转改正后,轨道切向、法向均方根(RMS)误差从25 cm左右提升至10 cm量级,提升幅度超过50%。因此,基于星载BDS-3以及BDS-3/GPS联合的实时定轨精度受BDS-3星历旋转误差影响严重,且主要作用于切向和法向。经过旋转改正后,单独BDS-3实时定轨在切向、法向、径向RMS分别为21.0 cm、10.7 cm及11.2 cm,其切向和法向精度比改正前分别提升15.0%和31.8%;BDS-3与GPS联合定轨进一步提升切向精度至19.4 cm。得益于BDS-3广播星历较高的精度,单BDS-3以及BDS-3/GPS联合的实时定轨在旋转改正前的三维RMS分别为31.9 cm和29.2 cm,较单GPS实时定轨分别提升9.1%和16.8%;添加旋转改正后,其定轨精度分别提升至26.7 cm和25.0 cm,较单GPS实时定轨分别提升22.6%和27.5%。

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。

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。

面向用户需求的低轨卫星资源分配算法

低轨(LEO)卫星多波束通信场景下,传统固定资源分配算法无法满足不同用户对信道容量的差异需求。以适应用户需求分配为主要目标,建立联合信道分配、带宽分配和功率分配的最小供需差优化模型,并引入图样分割多址接入技术(PDMA)提升信道资源的利用率。针对该模型的非凸特性,通过Q-learning算法学习资源分配最优策略为每个用户分配适合的信道容量,并引入奖励阈值进一步改进算法,加快算法的收敛,且使算法达到收敛时供需差异更小。仿真结果表明,改进后的算法收敛速度约是改进前的3.33倍:改进算法能满足更大的用户需求,比改进前Qlearning算法提升14%,是传统固定算法的2.14倍。

手机直连低轨卫星通信:架构、关键技术和未来展望

借助低轨卫星星座全时全域覆盖优势,手机直连卫星通信预期成为6G重要特征之一。首先介绍了手机直连卫星的测试验证、标准化与商业项目发展现状。其次,介绍了基于透明转发、部分可再生处理、完全可再生处理、集成接入和回传的四种手机直连低轨卫星网络架构及组网方式。通过分析手机直连低轨卫星网络场景下高移动性与大传输时延等带来的接入与传输问题,提出对地面移动通信体制进行适应性改进的关键技术方案。最后,探讨了未来手机直连低轨卫星发展发向和潜在思路。通过上述阐述与分析,提供未来发展手机直连低轨卫星通信的可行路径。

面向导航增强的低轨卫星钟差确定及预报方法研究

低轨导航增强是未来导航发展的重要趋势,而高精度低轨卫星钟差是实现低轨导航增强的必要条件。基于Sentinel-6A卫星,对低轨卫星钟差特性进行了分析,给出了钟差确定方法及影响因素,介绍了顾及钟差特性的低轨卫星钟差预报方法。实验表明,低轨卫星钟差含有多个周期项,给低轨卫星建模和预报带来了困难。与使用运动学定轨模型相比,基于简化动力学的定轨模型可显著提升低轨卫星钟差精度;当基于运动学模型确定低轨卫星钟差时,相较于使用GPS单系统数据,多GNSS观测数据可提升低轨卫星钟差精度。研究表明,基于GPS和Galileo观测的Sen-tinel-6A卫星钟差精度相较于GPS单系统钟差精度改善了36%,同时,所使用的GNSS产品精度与低轨卫星钟差精度密切相关。利用顾及卫星钟差特性的低轨卫星钟差预报方法,当预报时长小于1min,低轨卫星钟差预报精度(预报与解算值之差的RMSE)在0.1ns之内,当预报时长小于5min,预报精度在0.3ns之内,随着预报时长的增长,预报精度显著下降。

巨型星座路由技术综述

针对当前卫星星座巨型化趋势,分析巨型星座的特点,从组网传输和业务需求两方面总结巨型星座路由的能力要求,包含信令开销、负载均衡、故障处理、QoS保障等4个方面,并针对性地分析适用于巨型星座的路由方法、典型算法及其表现。展望软件定义网络、区域划分、人工智能、算力路由等4种支撑巨型星座路由的相关技术方向,以期对6G卫星互联网建设提供参考。

低轨卫星与5G-R融合网络架构设计

由于地面网络覆盖不均匀,信号质量不够稳定,无法实现铁路交通网络的全程、快速、实时监测,阻碍了我国铁路交通网络的快速发展。同时,低轨卫星通信与地面5G的融合成为热点,二者的融合能够使卫星网络作为地面网络的有效补充。当前星地融合较少用于5G-R技术场景中。本文梳理了铁路卫星通信以及星地融合网络的研究现状与发展趋势;分析了铁路通信系统中各业务的通信需求。在此基础上,提出低轨卫星与5G-R融合网络架构。在弥补铁路通信网络覆盖盲区的同时,提供大容量的信息回传,有效保障铁路交通的安全运行,实现铁路交通的信息化、智能化管理。

一种基于Madgwick-EKF融合算法的卫星姿态测量方法

针对低地球轨道卫星姿态测量时,传感器易受噪声干扰、陀螺仪漂移等问题,提出一种基于Madgwick扩展卡尔曼滤波合算法(EKF)的卫星姿态测量方法。该方法采用陀螺仪、加速度计、磁强计等多传感器数据进行融合,并结合Madgwick算法和EKF算法的优点,实现姿态测量。首先,通过Madgwick算法,利用多个传感器测量数据计算初始姿态。然后,基于初始姿态和实际测量数据,应用EKF算法进行数据融合和噪声滤除,以获得最终准确的姿态估计。实验结果表明:相较Madgwick算法,本算法在测量精度上提升了65.8%,且具有较高的鲁棒性,为低地球轨道卫星姿态测量提供了一种有效的方案。

低轨卫星网络服务质量保障路由方法综述

随着无线电和卫星小型化技术的进一步成熟,大规模低轨卫星网络得到了长足发展,面对网络传输业务的时延、带宽、丢包率等服务质量的差异化需求,如何在低轨卫星网络中实现服务质量保障路由,成为了研究关注的关键问题。通过介绍低轨卫星网络服务质量保障路由的场景与需求,总结并分析了当前的研究成果。首先,针对传统网络中的服务质量保障路由算法,总结了三类经典的路由计算方法。然后,对于软件定义网络和确定性网络中的服务质量保障路由算法,结合各自的网络特点,分析总结了各自场景下的路由算法。

低轨通信卫星双向测量差分定位方法

在非地面网络中,依托低轨通信卫星的星地链路、卫星载荷以及地面终端等资源,实现定位解算,是实现未来6G通感一体化的重要技术手段之一。在手机直连卫星等场景下,终端设计上往往只与一颗卫星进行通信,探索单星定位方法具有十分迫切的意义。针对以往单星连续观测定位精度因子差、时钟同步困难、收敛速度慢等难题,提出了一种低轨星座场景下的双向测量差分定位方法,并基于卫星位置精度因子设计了位置更新策略。利用星地链路,采用单程双向测距方法消除时钟误差,通过时间累计测量、终端随机切换的方式弥补单星观测的空间缺陷,优化了终端定位性能。在仿真场景下,基于SpaceX的卫星轨道参数,对所提方案进行了验证,结果表明,采用随机切换卫星的方法进行测量,相比于未切换保持单星测量的终端,定位性能提升近100%;联合解算多个时刻观测数据,能够提升精度收敛速度,减小定位误差,在180 s的仿真时间内利用512次观测数据,当终端切换次数为19次时,最优定位精度可达299.5 m。

面向6G通信的多层低轨卫星网络路由算法

在面向6G的移动通信网络中,低轨卫星网络(LEO,Low Earth Orbit)运行高度低、时延小,可大范围部署实现全球广域低时延通信。当前低轨卫星星座正朝着多层轨道面发展,多层轨道的跨层链路增加了数据传输路径,但跨层轨间链路的频繁通断,增大了多层LEO网络层间路由选择的难度。为此提出了一种面向6G移动通信的多层LEO卫星网络路由算法。首先建立跨层链路,面向端到端传输时延和可靠性需求,分析影响跨层轨间链路频繁通断的因素,基于LEO卫星网络虚拟位置思想,选择卫星节点对建立可靠跨层链路;然后实现路由选择,基于所建立的跨层星间链路,采用时空演化图模型刻画动态网络拓扑,设计最短路径算法计算最佳传输路径。最后,构建三层卫星网络场景对所提算法进行仿真验证。结果表明,相对于现有方法,所提算法在端到端时延和可靠性均有明显提升。

基于最优邻域搜索粒子群的低轨卫星通信任务规划方法

针对低轨卫星通信中的任务规划问题,提出了一种基于最优邻域搜索粒子群优化(Particle Swarm Optimization,PSO)群算法的任务规划方法。引入最优近邻搜索,通过最优粒子间的差分值来促进局部搜索,设计了惯性权值、社会和自我学习因子的优化方式,最终能够高效求解低轨卫星通信星座中多转发器与多任务的组合优化问题,用以应对低轨卫星过境时间限制和链路切换导致的时间段离散问题,并使得算法前期具有更强探索全局最优和后期快速收敛的能力。实验验证结果表明,该方法能够在低轨卫星中的约束条件下,有效提高卫星平均资源占用率(Average Occupancy Percentage,AOP)的同时减少算法收敛的迭代次数,显著降低运行时间开销。