Next-generation communication protocol concepts for future nanosatellite constellations

For the envisaged data relay scenario, the adoption of advanced communication protocol concepts is required. This paper presents innovative solutions for the fulfilment of the described communications tasks. After an investigation of the system requirements, strategies for the interconnection of the spacecrafts for the creation of a small constellation network are provided. Suitable transport protocol implementations are investigated and efficient store-and-forward concepts are proposed. A communication architecture for the usage of a data relay satellite within the constellation is presented, describing the role of the different nodes in the network.