The challenge

Background and context

Modern defence activities require the ability to collect, synthesize, and distribute large volumes of data from diverse sources to ensure domain awareness and effective command and control. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are envisioned to fulfil these requirements by enabling HSNs with high throughput, low latency, and global coverage. The HSN must be responsive across layers to transport data through different network segments and meet dynamic traffic demands. Of particular importance is HSN architectural robustness and resilience under dynamic traffic load and segment failure conditions.

DND/CAF are seeking proposals for on-orbit gateway research experiments that provide new insights on achievable multi-hop capabilities under different operational conditions, supported by measurement data. The operational conditions include but are not limited to traffic dynamics and link or network failures to inform future HSN architecture development. The emphasis is on advancing analytical and simulation models, based on measurement data, to capture the dynamics of network behaviours for different types of applications.

This challenge focuses on gateways in LEO that operate as translation systems between communications technologies. Gateways enable connections from data sources that may be space-based or terrestrial (including marine and airborne), into and through a LEO constellation, to remote terminals in space or on Earth. The goal of the challenge is to characterize gateway paths that include multiple inter-satellite links.

As there are a variety of strategies and methods that could be proposed for meeting this challenge, DND/CAF is providing some guidance to innovators based on experiences with similar projects:

Essential outcomes

DND/CAF is seeking proposals that provide insight into the design of future resilient HSN and demonstrate how the solution will measure and characterize inter-satellite links, including the planning and execution of measurements, and the analysis and modelling of collected data.

Solutions must deliver:

• On-orbit experiments designed to measure and characterize space network communication paths comprising multiple inter-satellite links. These must involve transmitting data from a space-based or terrestrial data source, via at least one LEO gateway satellite, to one or more constellations of data relays, and then to one or more remote terminals;
• Characterization of the end-to-end data path, including link establishment, maintenance (such as handovers and adaptation), and quality of service; and,
• Documentation of all demonstrations, experiments, characterisations, analyses, and results as well as delivering all supporting models, simulations, and raw data.

Desired outcomes 

In addition to the essential outcomes, proposed solutions should include additional testing, experiments, demonstrations, and capabilities such as, but not limited to:

1. Technology demonstration and experimentation capabilities relevant to a future hybrid space network or Arctic operations. Examples may include (but are not limited to):
   1. additional and/or alternate data sources;
   2. on-orbit data processing;
   3. additional gateway functionality;
   4. alternate inter-satellite bearers;
   5. multiple application traffic types;
   6. mobile remote terminals, especially in the Arctic;
   7. protection of the gateway.
2. Testing, modelling, and analysis that support the development of HSNs. Examples may include (but are not limited to):
   1. alternate orbit configurations;
   2. path recovery and resilience;
   3. resource management;
   4. alternate handover protocols;
   5. performance under varying traffic loads;
   6. alternate transport protocols;
   7. alternative end-to-end security protocols.