A System Simulator for Low Orbit Satellite Communication Network

A typical low orbit satellite communication network may include a few hundred satellites and over a thousand terminals. Evaluating the performance of dynamic satellite networks has created a need for an efficient simulation tool. This paper describes such a tool developed in support of the Multiple Satellite System Program and how it is being used to evaluate satellite network performance. The work was done under the sponsorship of Rome Air Development Center (RADC), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO). The simulator is designed to adapt to evolving technologies in low orbit satellite communications. An integrated environment is simulated to analyze link protocols and network routing algorithms. Message packets that traverse uplinks. crosslinks, and downlinks are traced through node subsystems. Data that is created during the simulation is collected for analysis. Reports and graphical displays support studies being conducted to mitigate the risks associated with deployment of low orbit satellite networks.