How to Begin Implementing a Satellite Communication in NS3

To stimulate a Satellite Communication project in ns-3 contains the replicate of satellite networks has involves the satellite nodes, ground stations, and inter-satellite connection. The NS3 tool for provide the Satellite Network Module such as available in recent versions which helps the realistic satellite environment. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you start:

Steps to Begin Implementing a Satellite Communication Projects Using NS3

Step 1: Understand Satellite Communication Basics

Key Components:
- Satellites: Orbiting nodes which communicate by ground stations or other satellites.
- Ground Stations: Terrestrial nodes which interface by satellites.
- Links:
  - Uplink: Ground station to satellite.
  - Downlink: Satellite to ground station.
  - Inter-Satellite Links (ISL): connection among the satellites.
Scenarios:
- Single satellite by ground stations.
- Satellite constellations for instance LEO, MEO, GEO.
- Inter-satellite communications.
Challenges:
- High latency for the long distances.
- Variable connectivity due to satellite mobility.
- Challenges for bandwidth.

Step 2: Install and Configure ns-3

Download ns-3:
- Install the latest version from nsnam.org.
Enable Satellite Module:
- Create a ns-3 by the Satellite Network Component:

./waf configure –enable-modules=satellite,internet,mobility,point-to-point

./waf build

Verify Installation:
- Validate the Satellite Network components for sample:

./waf –run satellite-simple

Step 3: Define the Project Scope

Scenario:
- It replicates the satellite-ground communication.
- Execution a satellite constellation for sample Starlink.
- Estimate the inter-satellite communication.
Metrics:
- This metrices are providing the latency, throughput, packet delivery ratio, and signal strength.

Step 4: Set Up Satellite Network Topology

Create Nodes:
- Outline the satellites and ground stations:

NodeContainer satelliteNodes, groundStations;

satelliteNodes.Create(5); // 5 satellites

groundStations.Create(2); // 2 ground stations

Set Up Mobility:
- Use the setting for orbital parameters in satellite actions:

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantVelocityMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(satelliteNodes);

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < satelliteNodes.GetN(); ++i) {

Ptr<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel> cvmm = satelliteNodes.Get(i)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel>();

cvmm->SetPosition(Vector(i * 500, 0, 1000)); // Position in space

cvmm->SetVelocity(Vector(0, 7.5, 0)); // Orbital speed in km/s

}

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(groundStations);

Configure Links:
- Express the satellite-ground and inter-satellite connection using the Satellite component:

SatelliteChannelHelper channel = SatelliteChannelHelper::Default();

NetDeviceContainer satelliteDevices = SatelliteHelper::Install(satelliteNodes, channel);

NetDeviceContainer groundStationDevices = SatelliteHelper::Install(groundStations, channel);

Step 5: Configure Network Communication

Install Network Stack:
- Improve the IP stack for satellites and ground stations:

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(satelliteNodes);

stack.Install(groundStations);

Assign IP Addresses:
- Setting the IP addressing for devices:

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

ipv4.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

ipv4.Assign(satelliteDevices);

ipv4.Assign(groundStationDevices);

Step 6: Add Traffic Applications

Configure Data Transmission:
- Setting the communication from ground stations for satellites and vice versa:

uint16_t port = 9;

OnOffHelper clientHelper(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.2”), port));

clientHelper.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“1Mbps”));

clientHelper.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));

ApplicationContainer clientApp = clientHelper.Install(groundStations.Get(0));

clientApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

PacketSinkHelper sinkHelper(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address::GetAny(), port));

ApplicationContainer sinkApp = sinkHelper.Install(satelliteNodes.Get(0));

sinkApp.Start(Seconds(0.0));

sinkApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Custom Applications:
- Encompass Application for detailed satellite communication logic.

Step 7: Enable Tracing and Monitoring

Enable Satellite Tracing:
- Log satellite communication actions:

channel.EnablePcap(“satellite”, satelliteDevices.Get(0));

Enable FlowMonitor:
- Track the network performance:

FlowMonitorHelper flowMonitor;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowMonitor.InstallAll();

Step 8: Run the Simulation

Schedule Simulation:
- Describe the duration of replication:

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

Analyze Results:
- Use trace files or FlowMonitor result for estimate the performance metrics.

Step 9: Example: Simple Satellite Simulation

Here’s a basic example script:

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/satellite-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {