Megaconstellations vs. Traditional Satellite Systems: A Comparative Analysis

The space industry is undergoing a transformation, driven by new innovations in satellite technology. One of the most prominent developments in recent years is the rise of megaconstellations, a network of thousands of small satellites orbiting the Earth. These systems -SpaceX (Starlink), Amazon (Project Kuiper)- are challenging the dominance of traditional satellite systems, which have typically consisted of fewer, larger satellites in higher orbits.

This article provides a comparative analysis of these two satellite systems, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and potential implications.

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1. Satellite Number and Size

One of the most fundamental differences between megaconstellations and traditional satellite systems lies in the number of satellites and their size.

• Megaconstellations: consist of a large number of small satellites (often weighing less than 500 kg) deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), usually between 400 and 1,200 km above the Earth. For instance, SpaceX’s Starlink aims to deploy up to 42,000 satellites to provide global internet coverage. These small satellites operate collectively to provide continuous coverage.
• Traditional Satellite Systems: Conventional satellites tend to be larger and operate at higher altitudes, typically in geostationary orbit (GEO) at about 36,000 km or medium Earth orbit (MEO). These satellites are often fewer in number and individually much more powerful.

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2. Latency and Coverage

Another key distinction between the two systems is latency—the delay in transmitting data between Earth and the satellite—and the coverage area.

• Megaconstellations: Due to their low altitude, LEO satellites in megaconstellations experience low latency (often around 20-40 milliseconds) compared to traditional systems. This makes them ideal for services like broadband internet, which require rapid data transmission. However, since each satellite covers a relatively small area, a large number of satellites is required to achieve global coverage. For instance, Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet to even remote regions with low latency.
• Traditional Satellite Systems: Satellites in GEO have much higher latency, often exceeding 500 milliseconds, because of their distance from Earth. However, a single satellite can cover a much larger area, which is why GEO satellites are commonly used for TV broadcasting and weather monitoring.

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3. Cost and Accessibility

• Megaconstellations: One of the key advantages of megaconstellations is their potential for lower costs and greater accessibility. Small satellites are cheaper to manufacture and launch as they are usually launched in batches of identical spacecraft, and LEO orbits are less expensive to reach than higher orbits. Additionally, because megaconstellations consist of numerous small satellites, they are more resilient to failures—if one satellite fails, others can take over its coverage.
• Traditional Satellite Systems: Traditional satellites, particularly those in GEO, are usually unique systems, expensive to build and launch, often costing hundreds of millions of dollars. The high initial investment limits accessibility, as services offered by GEO satellites are typically more expensive and less available in remote areas (e.g. the polar regions are not well covered by the GEO satellites). However, GEO satellites are known for their long lifespan, typically around 15 years or more, whereas LEO satellites may need to be replaced more frequently.

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4. Lifespan and Sustainability

• Megaconstellations: The short lifespan of LEO satellites (around 5-7 years) means they need frequent replacement, contributing to the increasing concern about space debris. As thousands of satellites are launched, the risk of collisions and debris creation rises. Companies in this case can implement de-orbiting plans for their satellites to mitigate this risk (for example, SpaceX has done more than 50,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the past 8 months).
  This big amount of satellites in megaconstellations has sparked global discussions on space traffic management and sustainability, raising the need for new regulations (5-year regulation of the FCC or French FSOA).
• Traditional Satellite Systems: In contrast, traditional satellites in GEO have much longer lifespans (often exceeding 15 years). While fewer in number, these satellites pose less immediate risk in terms of space debris. However, if something goes wrong with a GEO satellite, its replacement is a costly and time-consuming process and any debris on this orbit will stay for thousands of years.

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5. Applications and Use Cases

• Megaconstellations: The primary application of megaconstellations is enabling IoT, but they have potential also in other fields like Earth observation and disaster response. 
• Traditional Satellite Systems: These systems have been the backbone of telecommunications, television broadcasting, weather monitoring, and military communications for decades.

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Conclusion

The choice between megaconstellations and traditional satellite systems depends on the specific needs/goals of each mission. 

Megaconstellations offer low-latency, global internet coverage at a potentially lower cost, making them well-suited for providing internet access in remote and underserved regions. However, they raise concerns about space debris and sustainability. Traditional satellite systems, with their long lifespan and broad coverage, continue to be reliable for applications like broadcasting, weather monitoring, and military communications, though they come with higher costs and slower data transmission speeds.

As the space industry evolves, it is likely that both megaconstellations and traditional satellite systems will continue to coexist, each serving distinct purposes. We may also see other types of constellations merging LEO and higher orbits to compensate the disadvantage of each orbit. The challenge will be balancing innovation with sustainability to ensure that the benefits of satellite technology can be enjoyed for generations to come.

In this evolving landscape, RIDE! is positioned to be a crucial partner in planning and deploying megaconstellations. Not only do we have the experience and expertise in this domain, but we also possess the means to manage large-scale satellite projects. Our team of experts and platform allow us to create concrete strategies for each project, ensuring tailored solutions that meet the unique demand of clients aiming to leverage megaconstellations in their entreprises.

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*Photo credits: SpaceX-Starlink satellite train. 2019