Space–ground QKD network based on a compact payload and medium-inclination orbit
Yang LiSheng-Kai LiaoYuan CaoJi-Gang RenWei-Yue LiuJuan YinQi ShenQiang JiaLiang ZhangHai-Lin YongJin LinFengzhi LiXi TaoLi LiRong ShuQiang ZhangYu-Ao ChenChao‐Yang LuNai-Le LiuXiang‐Bin WangJianyu WangCheng-Zhi PengJian-Wei Pan
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Abstract:
Significant progress has been made in satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD), and urgent follow-up work is to explore the optimal solution for building practical quantum constellations. Here, we demonstrate successful QKD based on the compact terminal on the Tiangong-2 Space Lab and construct a space–ground quantum network among four ground stations. The medium-inclination orbit of Tiangong-2 Space Lab can obtain multiple available passes for the same ground station in one night, increasing the key generation amount directly. Further analysis results show that the medium-inclination orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit can form good complementarity in future quantum constellations. As a comprehensive demonstration, this work takes a step toward cost-effective quantum satellites and provides a perspective for satellite constellation construction with different orbit types.Keywords:
Quantum key distribution
Payload (computing)
Orbit (dynamics)
Satellite constellation
The paper defines the concept of the structure self-stabilization for satellite constellation,and analyzes the configuration stability of satellite constellation influenced by the main perturbations.Then the method is designed to realize the structure self-stabilization for satellite constellation through changing the deviations of the semi-axis and the inclination.Finally the design of the structure self-stabilization for an example constellation has carried,and the design results indicate that the design of the structure self-stabilization for satellite constellation has enhanced the configuration stability for satellite constellation.
Satellite constellation
Self-stabilization
Communications satellite
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The low earth orbit satellite constellation is used for the discussed object in this paper. Regarding coverage performance as an important consideration, it states the general idea and method of the optimal design with the requirement of partial coverage for small satellite constellation in details. Based on the analysis of the key factors effect on the constellation performance, the optimal model is given by choosing the appropriate parameters with some constraints. For the design of different satellite planes, the potential and characteristic of constellation optimization are stated through the comparison between two orbit surface and three orbit surface constellation with some a specific task. Whereafter simulation and analysis is done. The result shows that the optimal model provided herein is of theoretical meaning and practical application.
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Orbit (dynamics)
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In this paper, a constellation of four low earth orbit nanosatellites for disaster monitoring is presented; their small size, low cost, and short time development give them the opportunity to be widely selected. The space segment is based on existing subsystems that are assembled on the bottom part of a developed structure and present acceptable performance for the mission. The payload is a multispectral camera which fulfills the mission's requirements (remote sensing). The ground segment is based on an existing modular ground station, used for the ALSAT-1 DMC, which will be adapted to fit with the specifications of the mission.
Payload (computing)
Satellite constellation
Ground segment
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This paper reviews some basic equations of motion and coverage of satellites in earth orbit as well as examining satellite constellation design techniques. Specific orbit properties are highlighted and their applicability to constellation design and earth coverage are then investigated. A PCN oriented satellite constellation is then proposed with some unique properties. The proposed constellation scheme allows for a reduction in overall system cost in two ways. Firstly, simplification in satellite design result in satellite development costs being reduced and secondly, because each satellite will be designed for a particular orbit, constellation lifetime can be significantly extended.
Satellite constellation
Medium Earth orbit
Satellite broadcasting
Orbit (dynamics)
Communications satellite
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In order to improve service performance of navigation constellation,many experts consider the mixed constellation configuration of GEO satellite,IGSO satellite and MEO satellite.In the design of the new constellation configuration or the research of the existing constellation performance,the inter-satellite link(ISL) is needed to established,and the connectivity and robustness of the ISL are needed to analyze.The characteristics of the mixed constellation configuration are analyzed,and the characteristics of ISL establishment and the service performance of GEO satellite,IGSO satellite and Walker-δ constellation are discussed firstly.Then,the method to determine ISL connectivity in the mixed constellation by the adjacency matrix is put forward,and the standards of the ISL robustness are given using the number of ways between any two satellites,cutting point,cutting edge,k-connectivity degree and k-edge connectivity degree of graph theory.The minimum required number of ISLs of a k-connectivity′s constellation and the construction method of k-connectivity′s constellation are given for the first time.Finally,the 3GEO+3IGSO+24MEO constellation configuration is simulated.The criteria for ISL establishment,the connectivity and robustness of this mixed constellation configuration are studied,and many important conclusions are obtained.
Satellite constellation
Robustness
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Spaceborne netted radars are of benefit for low-earth-orbit (LEO) object detection. Methods of constellation design are presented in detail by mean of the analysis on satellite orbital parameters, types of constellation coverage and other parameters related to constellation design. Simu-lations on LEO objects detection using spaceborne netted radars are implemented under the constraint of rational operating parameters of space-based radars. Walker con-stellation and non-Walker constellation with different pa-rameter configuration are compared in terms of observation time gap for one satellite as an example, followed by the statistical results of observation time intervals for more than one hundred objects. The simulation results show that the observation time intervals for LEO objects can be shortened effectively by means of spaceborne netted radars, resulting in higher coverage ratio of observation.
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Orbit (dynamics)
Earth observation
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This paper mainly discusses how to design a regional constellation by MEO satellites. Firstly, it addresses that the LEO satellite constellation is not good enough for designing partial coverage satellite system. Then the method of designing regional constellations with an MEO satellite chain is introduced, including how to compute and optimize constellation parameter. Two regional constellations are given with their coverage capability. At last, partial coverage constellation is compared with Rosette constellation. The regional constellations are suitable to China.
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Communications satellite
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Constellation configuration design is a prerequisite and critical step in the construction of a mega-constellation system in low Earth orbit. However, the huge number of satellites and the intricate changes in relative positions among them make the configuration design the most challenging part. In this paper, we propose a configuration design scheme for mega-constellations considering collision-avoidance constraints with the objective of uniform global coverage. In this design scheme, the constellation is made up of multiple Walker constellations with the same orbital altitude and different orbital inclination. Moreover, the analytical expression for the minimum distance between any two satellites in the same orbital altitude is derived, and the constellation internal collision-avoidance constraint is established accordingly. Finally, a permanent inter-satellite link design scheme without dynamic reconstruction is presented based on the mega-constellation configuration. Simulation results show that the mega-constellation design scheme introduced in this paper can achieve relatively uniform global coverage (its N Asset Coverage ranges from 18 to 25). The mixed Walker constellation is capable of providing a greater number of N Asset Coverage for most of the world than the Walker constellation of the same satellite order of magnitude. In addition, the inter-satellite link scheme designed in this paper can ensure continuous and stable communication between any satellite nodes.
Satellite constellation
Circular orbit
Medium Earth orbit
Orbit (dynamics)
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In this paper LEO-polar constellation for full earth coverage is investigated. Some important features of a constellation are introduced such as number of satellites and orbits needed for continues coverage, handover, intersatellite links and seam. Also the effects of satellite altitude on minimum elevation angle are analyzed and in the end some numeric results are gained.
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Polar orbit
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Earth's orbit
Satellite broadcasting
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A constellation configuration performance evaluation method is proposed for the performance evaluation of the low-orbit large-scale communication satellite constellations. The practicality and feasibility analysis of the constellation configuration is mainly studied from the constellation coverage performance. Based on the consideration of the coverage performance of the LEO satellite constellation, four simulation models are established for the single coverage rate, observation elevation angle, number of visible satellites under different observation elevation angles, and coverage efficiency of the constellation. A population distribution density function is established according to the characteristics of population distribution to find the average minimum observation elevation angle and the average number of visible satellites under the population distribution. The evaluation method is applied to three typical low-orbit large-scale communication satellite constellations, Telesat, OneWeb, and Starlink, to derive the coverage performance index values of each constellation and to compare and analyze the characteristics of the three constellations. The results show that the evaluation method can evaluate the configuration performance of different types of LEO large-scale constellations and provide a basis and reference for the optimal design and evaluation of future LEO large-scale constellation configurations.
Satellite constellation
Elevation (ballistics)
Orbit (dynamics)
Communications satellite
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