Effects on TCP of routing strategies in satellite constellations

A broadband satellite network uses a constellation of a number of similar s atellites to provide wireless networking services to the Earth. A number of these constellation networks are under development. This article introduce s the types of satellite constellation networks, and examines how overall p erformance of TCP communications carried across such a network can be affec ted by the choice of routing strategies used within the network. Constellat ions utilizing direct intersatellite links are capable of using multiple pa ths between satellites simultaneously as a strategy to spread network load. This allows more general routing strategies than shortest-path routing, bu t we show these strategies to be detrimental to the performance of individu al TCP connections.