STARRYNET: Empowering Researchers to Evaluate Futuristic Integrated Space and Terrestrial Networks

Abstract

Futuristic integrated space and terrestrial networks (ISTN) not only hold new opportunities for pervasive, low-latency Internet services, but also face new challenges caused by satellite dynamics on a global scale. It should be useful for researchers to run various experiments to systematically explore new problems in ISTNs. However, existing experimentation methods either attain realism but lack flexibility (e.g., live satellites), or achieve flexibility but lack realism (e.g., ISTN simulators).

This paper presents STARRY NET, a novel experimentation framework that enables researchers to conveniently build credible and flexible experimental network environments (ENE) mimicking satellite dynamics and network behaviors of large-scale ISTNs. STARRY NET simultaneously achieves constellation-consistency, networked system realism and flexibility, by adopting a real-data-driven, lightweight-emulation-aided approach to build a digital twin of physical ISTNs in the terrestrial virtual environment. Driven by public and real constellation-relevant information, we show STARRY NET’s acceptable fidelity and demonstrate its flexibility to support various ISTN experiments, such as evaluating different inter-networking mechanisms for space-ground integration, and assessing the network resilience of futuristic ISTNs.

未来的空间与地面网络（ISTN）不仅为普遍的低延迟互联网服务提供了新的机会，而且也面临着由卫星动态带来的全球性挑战。对于研究人员来说，能够进行各种实验，以系统地探索 ISTN 中的新问题是非常有益的。

然而，现有的实验方法要么实现了现实性，但缺乏灵活性（例如，实时卫星），要么实现了灵活性，但缺乏现实性（例如，ISTN 模拟器）。

本文提出了 STARRY NET，一个创新的实验框架，旨在使研究人员能够方便地构建可信且灵活的实验网络环境（ENE），模拟卫星动态和大规模 ISTN 的网络行为。

STARRY NET 通过采用基于真实数据驱动的轻量级仿真辅助方法，在地面虚拟环境中构建物理 ISTN 的数字双胞胎，从而同时实现了星座一致性、网络系统现实性和灵活性。通过利用公开的、与星座相关的真实信息，本文展示了 STARRY NET 的可接受保真度，并演示了其支持多种 ISTN 实验的灵活性，例如评估不同的空间地面集成 inter-networking 机制，以及评估未来 ISTN 的网络韧性。

本文术语汇总

• ISTN: Integrated Space and Terrestrial Networks, 天地一体化网络
• LEO: Low Earth Orbit
• ISLs: Inter-Satellite Links
• LSN: LEO Satellite Network
• VSAT: Very-Small-Aperture Terminals, 小口径终端
• LLH: Latitude, Longitude and Height 纬度、经度和高度
• OEC: Orbital Edge Computing 在轨边缘计算