Design of a Satellite Constellation Intended for Use with a Small User Terminal

Sammanfattning: Satellite constellations intended for communications services are becoming increasingly relevant with multiple companies such as Starlink and OneWeb launching constellations consisting of hundreds or thousands of satellites. This thesis investigated how such a constellation can be designed for a small user terminal with a diameter of approximately 15 cm. Four constellations, two at 8 500 km altitude and two at 1 200 km altitude, were proposed. Methods for systematic placement of satellites in orbital planes, aspects going into the link budget, and relevant regulations on the international level were investigated. It was found that the most favourable constellation was a medium Earth orbit constellation with a minimum elevation of 30°. The primary reason for this choice was the limited budget which did not allow for a large number of satellites being launched. Finally, the concept of a hybrid constellation with both geostationary satellites and non-geostationary satellites was considered.