A global message network employing low earth-orbiting satellites

A global message communication network for low-density traffic, using satellites at low altitudes, is described. This network affords around-the-clock service to any part of the globe, including the polar regions. Such a network can accommodate static and mobile user terminals simultaneously. The oblate globe is modeled as a regular polyhedron with 12 facets for setting up the orbits. Satellites are positioned uniformly in low-altitude symmetrical orbits. The symmetrical orbits are those whose axes are symmetrical in the three-dimensional space. The authors study the coverage aspects of the 6-orbit scheme and the 10-orbit scheme, each with satellites deployed at an altitude of 5000 km. At this altitude, the terrestrial user terminals can access satellites at a grazing angle of 45°. The method of access over the crosslinks is the slotted ALOHA scheme. For low-density traffic, the downlink and uplink throughput rates are estimated. Simulation results agree with these analytical estimates for low values of network offered load.