On the LEO Satellite Constellation Design for North Atlantic Coverage

Abstract

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are emerging as a key component of non-terrestrial networks due to their low-latency and high-capacity communication capabilities. However, satellites in these orbits are characterized by a small coverage footprint and high orbital velocity compared to those in higher orbits. This results in constantly changing and dynamic constellations that require smart design of orbital parameters to ensure continuous coverage. Existing constellation deployments are typically optimized either for low- and mid-latitude regions or for full polar coverage, leaving high-latitude regional scenarios such as the North Atlantic insufficiently explored. This work provides insights into the key characteristics associated with the deployment of satellites in LEO for North Atlantic coverage. Therefore, we investigate how constellation inclination, minimum elevation angle, altitude, and satellite footprint jointly affect visibility probability, revisit time, path loss, and coverage continuity. Results show that the minimum elevation angle is a critical design parameter since a Walker Delta constellation with 64 satellites at 1000 km altitude can provide continuous coverage above 55{\deg}N for elevations below 20{\deg}, whereas coverage probability degrades drastically for larger elevation angles. Similarly, inclinations above approximately 70{\deg} are required to achieve robust North Atlantic coverage with medium-size constellations. Thus, these results provide practical guidelines on how a satellite constellation should be designed to achieve an efficient deployment with a focus on coverage over the North Atlantic, targeting maritime, aviation, and Arctic connectivity scenarios.