To Simulate Satellite Communication projects using NS3 has needs to include the modelling communication systems in which satellites behave as intermediaries among ground stations or natively serve as communication nodes. NS3 delivers modules and capabilities to replicate satellite networks, particularly with its support for mobility, wireless, and point-to-point communication systems. But, to mimic satellite-specific behaviours like orbital motion, inter-satellite links, and long propagation delays, we will need to whether expand NS3 or use third-party modules.
One of the most popular extensions for NS3 that supports satellite communication is ns3 satellite that delivers the behaviours for modelling satellite orbits, mobility, and long-distance communication.
The below are the detailed procedures on how to simulate the Satellite Communication projects using NS3
Steps to Simulate Satellite Communication in NS3:
- Install NS3 with Satellite Support
If you plan to replicate satellite communication, we can either utilize the default NS3 setup with custom modifications for satellite links or install a satellite-specific extension, like ns3-satellite. If we plan to utilize just NS3, we can replicate satellite links by describing long-range point-to-point links with high propagation delay.
Optional: Install ns3 satellite Module
- Clone the ns3 satellite Repository:
git clone https://github.com/signetlabdei/ns3-satellite
cd ns3-satellite
./waf configure
./waf build
- Add ns3 satellite to NS3: Once the module is installed, set up it with NS3, and rebuild NS3 using the ./waf build system.
- Satellite Communication Overview in NS3
In a basic Satellite Communication System, we will have:
- Satellites: it signifies as mobile nodes in a certain orbit.
- Ground Stations (Terminals): These communicate with the satellite using point-to-point or wireless links.
- Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs): Utilized to communicate among multiple satellites in a constellation.
- Propagation Delay: Satellite communication has includes high propagation delays, particularly in GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) or higher-altitude orbits.
- Simulating a Basic Satellite Communication Link
Here’s an instance in which a satellite is modelled as a mobile node in orbit, with two ground stations communicating via the satellite.
Example Code for Satellite Communication Simulation:
#include “ns3/core-module.h”
#include “ns3/network-module.h”
#include “ns3/internet-module.h”
#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”
#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”
#include “ns3/applications-module.h”
using namespace ns3;
NS_LOG_COMPONENT_DEFINE (“SatelliteCommunicationSimulation”);
int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
CommandLine cmd;
cmd.Parse (argc, argv);
// Create nodes: two ground stations and one satellite
NodeContainer groundStations;
groundStations.Create (2); // Two ground stations
NodeContainer satelliteNode;
satelliteNode.Create (1); // One satellite
// Set up point-to-point links between ground stations and the satellite
PointToPointHelper groundToSatellite;
groundToSatellite.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“1Gbps”));
groundToSatellite.SetChannelAttribute (“Delay”, StringValue (“250ms”)); // Propagation delay for satellite communication
NetDeviceContainer groundStationDevices, satelliteDevices;
groundStationDevices = groundToSatellite.Install (NodeContainer (groundStations.Get (0), satelliteNode.Get (0)));
satelliteDevices = groundToSatellite.Install (NodeContainer (groundStations.Get (1), satelliteNode.Get (0)));
// Set up the internet stack on the nodes
InternetStackHelper internet;
internet.Install (groundStations);
internet.Install (satelliteNode);
// Assign IP addresses
Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;
ipv4.SetBase (“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer groundStationInterfaces, satelliteInterface;
groundStationInterfaces = ipv4.Assign (groundStationDevices);
satelliteInterface = ipv4.Assign (satelliteDevices);
// Mobility model for satellite (orbiting)
MobilityHelper mobility;
mobility.SetMobilityModel (“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);
mobility.Install (satelliteNode); // Static satellite; you can change to moving orbits
// Set up UDP server on the first ground station
UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer (9);
ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install (groundStations.Get (0));
serverApp.Start (Seconds (1.0));
serverApp.Stop (Seconds (20.0));
// Set up UDP client on the second ground station
UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient (groundStationInterfaces.GetAddress (0), 9);
echoClient.SetAttribute (“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue (1000));
echoClient.SetAttribute (“Interval”, TimeValue (Seconds (1.0)));
echoClient.SetAttribute (“PacketSize”, UintegerValue (1024));
ApplicationContainer clientApp = echoClient.Install (groundStations.Get (1));
clientApp.Start (Seconds (2.0));
clientApp.Stop (Seconds (20.0));
// Enable PCAP tracing for the ground stations
groundToSatellite.EnablePcapAll (“satellite-communication”);
// Run the simulation
Simulator::Run ();
Simulator::Destroy ();
return 0;
}
Explanation of Code:
- Nodes: There are three nodes: two ground stations and one satellite.
- Point-to-Point Links: We utilize point-to-point links to emulate the satellite communication link. The data rate is set to 1 Gbps, and the propagation delay is set to 250ms to account for the long distance (this can be modified depending on the orbit type).
- Mobility: A simple ConstantPositionMobilityModel is used to fix the satellite in one position. We can later replace it with a model that replicates an orbit.
- UDP Communication: A UDP echo server-client model is utilized to mimic communication among the two ground stations across the satellite.
- PCAP Tracing: Packet capture is permits to measure the packets sent and received through the satellite link.
- Adding Orbital Models
In real satellite communication, satellites move in defined orbits (LEO, MEO, and GEO). To replicate this, we need to model the satellite’s mobility using a custom mobility model.
We can describe orbital paths using GaussMarkovMobilityModel or custom orbital models.
Example of a Simple Orbital Movement Model:
mobility.SetMobilityModel (“ns3::ConstantVelocityMobilityModel”);
mobility.Install (satelliteNode);
// Set satellite velocity (example for Low Earth Orbit)
Ptr<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel> mobilitySat = satelliteNode.Get (0)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel> ();
mobilitySat->SetVelocity (Vector (7500, 0.0, 0.0)); // Speed of 7500 m/s in LEO
This models the satellite moving at a constant velocity in a straight line. We can expand this to replicate elliptical orbits.
- Simulating Constellations and Inter-Satellite Links (ISL)
To emulate satellite constellations such as Starlink or Iridium, we can generate multiple satellite nodes in orbit and configure an inter-satellite links (ISLs). We can utilize point-to-point links for ISLs with diverse propagation delays according to the distance among satellites.
NodeContainer constellation;
constellation.Create (10); // 10 satellites in the constellation
// Set up inter-satellite links (ISL)
PointToPointHelper islLink;
islLink.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“5Gbps”));
islLink.SetChannelAttribute (“Delay”, StringValue (“50ms”)); // Delay between satellites in constellation
for (int i = 0; i < constellation.GetN() – 1; i++)
{
islLink.Install (NodeContainer (constellation.Get (i), constellation.Get (i + 1)));
}
This generates a constellation of 10 satellites, in which each satellite is associated to its neighbouring satellite using ISLs with a data rate of 5 Gbps and a propagation delay of 50ms.
- Performance Metrics for Satellite Communication
Key parameters to measure the performance of satellite communication contain:
- Propagation Delay: The time it takes for signals to travel from the ground station to the satellite and back.
- Throughput: The amount of data successfully routed among nodes.
- Packet Loss: Assess the packet loss because of long propagation delays or network congestion.
- Bit Error Rate (BER): Evaluate how noise or interference affects the signal quality.
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): Measure on the quality of the communication link.
- Simulating Satellite Mobility with ns3-satellite
If we are using ns3 satellite, it deliver built-in support for satellite mobility has contain orbital models, and advanced satellite communication behaviours like handover among satellites in a constellation and inter-satellite communication.
- Run the Simulation
To execute the satellite communication simulation, compile and run the code as follows:
./waf –run scratch/satellite-communication-simulation
We deliberately deliver the simulation process to deploy and enforce the satellite communication based scenarios that were implemented by using ns3 simulation. Further details regarding the satellite communication will also be provided.
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