Design of a Quasi-Real-Time Communication System for LEO Satellites Using Beidou Short-Message Service

Abstract

A systematic design of a quasi-real-time communication system for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites is proposed and discussed, which utilized the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) short-message service. Interfaces of the BDS short message scheme is introduced, followed by the detailed descriptions of system structure and working process. Satellite Tool Kit (STK) software is then used to simulate the performances of the proposed system in two typical test scenarios. Results of available orbit intervals and time delay characteristics for different signal propagation paths are analyzed. Results show that the proposed system can serve the LEO satellite users with 99.9% available orbit intervals of the simulation period, and data can be transmitted to users in less than 17.2 s with 4 hops in the transmission path. The proposed system could find important applications in the design and construction of realistic communication systems for LEO satellites and future satellite networks.