Parameter Selections
Jianping An, Shuai Wang, Pingyue Yue, Gaofeng Pan · 2025
Orbital and frequency/waveform parameters have a profound impact on the security of satellite communications. This chapter analyzes orbital parameters. Altitude directly influences latency (lower altitudes significantly reduce transmission delay) and vulnerability (LEO satellites are more susceptible to ground-based jamming attacks due to their closer proximity to Earth). Inclination affects coverage scope (polar orbits enable uninterrupted global surveillance due to their high inclination angles) and collision risks (higher inclination increases encounters with space debris). Frequency selections, ranging from the L-band (which exhibits strong resilience to atmospheric and weather interference) to the Ka-band (which offers high bandwidth for data-intensive tasks), and emerging THz/laser bands (which boast low-interceptability due to their narrow beam widths), are evaluated for their anti-jamming capabilities and capacity potential. Waveform designs such as orthogonal time-frequency space (OTFS) modulation are examined for robustness in high-mobility scenarios where Doppler effects often degrade signal integrity. Trade-offs are examined, such as the increased susceptibility of higher frequencies to rain attenuation versus their anti-interference benefits from narrower beams. By guiding optimal parameter choices, this chapter helps to ensure that communication systems balance security, global coverage and operational efficiency.