Ultra-Dense LEO Satellite Constellation Design for Global Coverage in Terrestrial-Satellite Networks

Recently, the ultra-dense low earth orbit (LEO)satellite communication networks over high-frequency band have served as a potential solution for high-capacity backhaul data services. In this paper, we consider an ultra-dense LEO-based terrestrial-satellite network where terrestrial users can access the network through the LEO-assisted backhaul. We aim to minimize the number of satellites in the LEO satellite constellation while satisfying the backhaul requirement of each terrestrial-satellite terminal (TST). We first derive the average total backhaul capacity of each TST, based on which a three-dimensional constellation optimization algorithm is proposed to minimize the number of satellites in the LEO satellite constellation. Simulation results verify our theoretical capacity analysis and show that for any given coverage percentage requirement, the corresponding optimized LEO satellite constellation can be obtained by the proposed three-dimensional constellation optimization algorithm.