Unified multi-band, multi-path connectivity - a seamless ecosystem for space communications

Current space-ground communications infrastructure faces significant limitations that hinder spacecraft operators in responding to growing operational needs, including insufficient ground antenna capacity for proliferated LEO constellations and the sunsetting of existing space relay constellations such as NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS). New mission use cases are emerging, predicated on immediate access to spacecraft data and the ability to update tasking in real time. Operators require persistent, high-capacity, on-demand global data relay; resilience against emerging threats and outages; unified management and data interfaces across heterogeneous space-ground networks; and end-to-end active cyber defences. As a result, government and commercial entities are seeking additional connectivity options to support their missions. Here, we present an overview of two mission classes driving the need for new space-ground connectivity solutions and consider the design implications for, and challenges of implementing, multi-transport services such as Viasat’s HaloNet.