Aerospace Tracking Telemetry and Command on-the-spot Access Technology for low-orbit and High-density Satellite Constellations

DONG Guangliang; HAO Wanhong; ZHANG Guoting; TANG Da; GUO Jie

doi:10.11999/JEIT240466

Volume 47 Issue 7

Jul. 2025

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DONG Guangliang, HAO Wanhong, ZHANG Guoting, TANG Da, GUO Jie. Aerospace Tracking Telemetry and Command on-the-spot Access Technology for low-orbit and High-density Satellite Constellations[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(7): 2172-2182. doi: 10.11999/JEIT240466

Citation:

DONG Guangliang, HAO Wanhong, ZHANG Guoting, TANG Da, GUO Jie. Aerospace Tracking Telemetry and Command on-the-spot Access Technology for low-orbit and High-density Satellite Constellations[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(7): 2172-2182. doi: 10.11999/JEIT240466

Citation:

DONG Guangliang, HAO Wanhong, ZHANG Guoting, TANG Da, GUO Jie. Aerospace Tracking Telemetry and Command on-the-spot Access Technology for low-orbit and High-density Satellite Constellations[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(7): 2172-2182. doi: 10.11999/JEIT240466

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Aerospace Tracking Telemetry and Command on-the-spot Access Technology for low-orbit and High-density Satellite Constellations

doi: 10.11999/JEIT240466 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT240466

Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications Technology, Beijing 100094, China

Received Date: 2024-06-11
Rev Recd Date: 2025-06-18

Available Online: 2025-06-25

Publish Date: 2025-07-22

Abstract

Abstract

Objective The rapid proliferation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations has introduced significant challenges to traditional aerospace Tracking, Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) systems. These systems struggle to meet the growing demands of large-scale satellite operations due to limited capacity and inefficient resource management. This study proposes an innovative aerospace TT&C on-the-spot access technology, inspired by mobile communication systems, to address these challenges. The key objectives include enabling automatic, “base station-like” access for massive LEO satellite constellations, decoupling access and service links to enhance system scalability, and establishing a distributed, end-to-end TT&C network capable of supporting over 20,000 satellites in orbit. Methods The proposed technology integrates three core components: (1) Full-Time Panoramic Beam Coverage: Ground stations employ full airspace antenna arrays to generate low-power, continuous panoramic beams, ensuring 7～24 h signal coverage. This setup enables satellites entering a station’s coverage zone to automatically establish bidirectional links via dedicated access control channels. (2) Hybrid Multiple Access Scheme: A combination of Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) and Spread spectrum ALOHA Multiple Access (SAMA) is employed. SDMA partitions the airspace into sectors using phased-array beams, while SAMA utilizes pseudo-random sequences and time-slotted ALOHA to resolve contention among satellites. This hybrid approach optimizes complexity, backward compatibility, and scalability. (3) Distributed Network Architecture: The system shifts from a centralized, schedule-driven model to a decentralized framework, enabling TT&C users to interact directly with satellites via ground stations. Key innovations include: (1) Dedicated Access Control Channels: Separate from service links, these channels manage handshaking, status reporting, and emergency requests. (2) Channelized Beamforming: Flexible beam control allows dynamic resource allocation and ensures compatibility between legacy parabolic antennas and new phased-array systems. (3) Parallel Acquisition: Parallel sampling-processing pipelines and multi-channel frequency search strategies enhance acquisition through correlated parallelism and buffering techniques. Experimental validation demonstrates a success rate exceeding 95% for 8-user concurrent acquisition under typical SNR conditions, effectively balancing Doppler dynamics, timing, SNR thresholds, and hardware constraints amid interference. System performance is assessed using a Poisson process model to simulate satellite arrival rates and collision probabilities, with Monte Carlo simulations for link reliability and capacity estimation. Results and Discussions Compared to traditional single-beam TT&C systems, the proposed technology eliminates the need for manual scheduling, reduces latency, and enables parallel service for hundreds of satellites. The hybrid SDMA-SAMA scheme mitigates the "near-far effect" and signal collisions, achieving an optimal balance between complexity and performance. Integration with existing infrastructure, such as legacy antennas, ensures cost-effectiveness and facilitates gradual deployment. Under typical conditions, the success probability for a single satellite to gain access to the ground station exceeds 99.75% within 10 seconds (after two transmission attempts). Conclusions This study introduces a groundbreaking solution to the TT&C challenges posed by mega-constellations. The on-the-spot access technology redefines satellite-ground interactions by emulating mobile communication principles, facilitating automatic, distributed, and scalable operations. Key achievements include: (1) Decoupling Access and Service Links: This architectural shift effectively resolves capacity bottlenecks inherent in traditional systems. (2) Hybrid Multiple Access: The SDMA-SAMA combination ensures backward compatibility while supporting future expansions. (3) Operational Flexibility: Both ground operators and satellites can initiate TT&C sessions, enhancing responsiveness in emergency scenarios. Future work will focus on integrating artificial intelligence for predictive resource allocation and extending the framework to relay satellite systems for global coverage. The proposed system represents a significant advancement toward efficient, autonomous, and large-scale space infrastructure management.
- Low-orbit satellite constellations,
- Space Tracking Telemetry and Command (TT&C),
- On-the-spot access technology

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References(16)

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