Optimal parameters for a low-orbit to geostationary satellite link

We examine the design of a communication link involving the data transfer from a small, low-orbit satellite to a ground station, but through a geostationary satellite. The advantage of this approach is that a single ground station, which tracks only the geostationary satellite, may be shared by a multiplicity of small satellites. Our goal is to select certain small satellite parameters-signaling rate, small satellite antenna beamwidth, and modulation scheme-which maximize the data throughput in bits per day. Our approach uses both simulations of this scenario and theoretical analysis based on the channel cutoff rate, R₀