The realisation of mega-constellations is a major trend in space industry. Most of these constellations are telecommunication constellations aimed to provide broadband internet services globally with a low latency compatible with applications like fast trading and online gaming. Mega-constellations will irradiate radio frequency signals down to Earth, transmitting and receiving in low Earth orbit (LEO). the volume between their orbit and the ground, where thousands of spacecraft currently operate. Our idea is to study the feasibility and the impact of using the same internet provided by mega-constellations on satellites in LEO. Internet access in space is not a new concept. The international space station has recently upgraded its internet connection to 600 Mbit/s using the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) system.
Additionally, some low-cost spacecraft already use Iridium constellation as a way to communicate with the ground. However, the TDRS system is characterised by high latency and high power demands due to large distance between spacecraft, with Iridium providing only low data rates.
The services planned by future constellations aim to be low-latency, high-speed and global: this represents a step-change to the Internet service the spacecraft in LEO could potentially access to. We will do research to assess the feasibility for satellite in LEO to access the Internet services provided by existing, currently planned and multiple constellations, confident that the realisation of this concept will be disruptive for the operation of certain class of spacecraft. Along this activity we will identify innovative applications enabled by such connectivity.
This concept is innovative by reversing the perspective; i.e. what can Internet services can do for satellites, rather than what can satellites do for Internet services.
