LEO NTN Constellation Synthesis, Simulation and Visualisation: Preliminary research for the Satcom4Defence project
Translated title
LEO NTN Constellation Synthesis, Simulation and Visualisation
Author
Nielsen, Jacob Elberg
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-04
Pages
66
Abstract
There is growing demand for robust communication in the Nordic and North Atlantic region. This motivates a government-owned Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellite constellation for Danish/Nordic defence and emergency services. NTN refers to networks that use satellites rather than ground towers. Designing satellite constellations is complex and multidisciplinary. Foundational texts rarely show how to implement them, commercial platforms are architecturally rigid, and academic implementations are seldom shared. This thesis makes three contributions: (1) an open-source MATLAB toolkit to build constellation designs, run simulations, perform link-budget evaluations (estimating signal gains and losses), and visualize coverage; (2) a Walker-Delta synthesis algorithm that guarantees the fewest satellites needed to provide continuous coverage for a chosen altitude, minimum elevation angle (how high above the horizon a satellite must be), and region of interest; and (3) analyses of key NTN-specific issues. Applied to the Nordic and North Atlantic region with a 20° minimum elevation, Walker-Delta constellations require up to 19% fewer satellites than Walker-Star above 900 km. The toolkit is released on GitHub as a flexible, reconfigurable foundation for future Satcom4Defence research.
Der er stigende behov for robust kommunikation i Norden og Nordatlanten. Det motiverer en statsejet Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellitkonstellation til dansk/nordisk forsvar og beredskab. NTN betyder netværk, der bruger satellitter i stedet for jordbaserede master. At designe satellitkonstellationer er svært på tværs af flere fagområder. Grundlæggende litteratur mangler ofte praktiske implementeringer, kommercielle platforme er arkitektonisk stive, og akademisk kode bliver sjældent offentliggjort. Specialet bidrager med tre ting: (1) en open source MATLAB-værktøjskasse til at designe konstellationer, simulere deres ydelse, lave link-budget vurderinger (beregning af signalgevinster og -tab) og visualisere dækning; (2) en Walker-Delta syntesealgoritme, der garanterer at finde konstellationer med færrest mulige satellitter til kontinuerlig dækning ved en given banehøjde, minimumselevationsvinkel (hvor højt over horisonten satellitten skal være) og interesseområde; samt (3) analyser af centrale NTN-specifikke forhold. Anvendt på Norden og Nordatlanten med 20° minimumselevation kræver Walker-Delta-konstellationer op til 19% færre satellitter end Walker-Star over 900 km. Værktøjskassen er udgivet på GitHub som en fleksibel, konfigurerbar base for fremtidig Satcom4Defence-forskning.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords