Design of satellite constellation with inter-satellite links for global communication using genetic algorithm

Abstract

As a fundamental and significant stage of satellite networks which play an important role in global communications, a design of satellite constellations with inter-satellite links(ISLs) becomes necessary. An optimization method is proposed to determine both satellite elements and constellation elements using the multi-objective genetic algorithm(GA) in this paper. The objectives to be optimized, which are determined by the elements to be designed, are divided into performance objectives and cost objectives. The former consist of the coverage rate, the ISL range and the minimum elevation while the latter contain the total satellite count, the orbital altitude and the orbital inclination. With the aim of maximizing the performance minimizing the cost, the proposed method tries to achieve a balance among multi objectives and design specific satellite constellations considered in different conditions. Then the constellations designed in different schemes are compared with each other to demonstrate the correctness and effectiveness of the method.