Modeling and Analysis of Inter-Satellite Link in LEO Satellite Networks

Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks have become an emerging and promising technology to provide wide-range network access. The inter-satellite links (ISLs) extend the service scope of the network and reduce its dependence on terrestrial infrastructures. This paper formulates the calculation model for the ISL geometrical parameters including range and pointing direction, which are key parameters for communication performance. The ISL variation patterns with satellite phase are theoretically derived and verified by numerical simulations. The propagation delay of multi-ISL path is also studied.