ConSim: a constellation simulator for secure & resilient networks

Rising demand for high throughput, low latency and secure connectivity for governmental and military communications is accelerating the adoption of non-geostationary satellite constellations. Designing and optimising such secure, resilient systems requires a complex architecture with specific security constraints, such as restricted routing and peer-to-peer com- munication. To address these challenges, we present ConSim: a simulation platform for mega constellations of thousands of multi-shell, multi-beam satellites. ConSim combines 3D orbital simulations with interference and jamming aware link-budget calculations to derive per-link capacities. These capacities are matched to user demands which are characterised by service profiles, requirements and security restrictions, within a capacitated network flow graph linking users, satellites and gateways. ConSim uses a modified version of Dinic’s algorithm to identify the specific allowable routes for each user’s demand and to calculate the usable capacity of the network. As satellite locations and ground connectivity evolve, the system adapts routes and operational settings to optimise performance over time and to capture statistical variation and long-term behaviour. Examples demonstrate ConSim’s capabilities such as link capacity supply derivation, user demand matching and network design, to reveal insights into the analytical methods and results.