Section 2: Constellation Models

The megaconstellations are defined as a series of shells or `elements' each with a fixed height and inclination and a given number of orbital planes and number of satellites per plane.

Some elements are similar in height, and for my analysis I find it easier to group the elements into `layers'. I define (arbitrarily) three layers for each constellation, usually based on altitude. The idea is that in the simulation results one can then see the relative contributions of the different layers; three seems about the right number, more would be too confusing.

MODEL I: Starlink Constellation, 2019 Filings (12000 satellites)

This is the model discussed in my 2020 ApJL paper. It is superseded by the Gen1 and Gen2 models below. I will refer to it as 'Old'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 550 53.0 72 22 1584
B 2 1110 53.8 32 50 1600
B 3 1130 74.0 8 50 400
B 4 1275 81.0 5 75 375
B 5 1325 70.0 6 75 450
C 6 346 53.0 2547 1 2547
C 7 341 48.0 2478 1 2478
C 8 336 42.0 2493 1 2493

MODEL II: Starlink Constellation, Modified Gen 1 (Apr 2020 Filing, 4408 satellites)

I will refer to this as 'Gen1'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 550 53.0 72 22 1584
A 2 540 53.2 72 22 1584
B 3 570 70.0 36 20 720
C 4 560 97.6 6 58 348
C 5 560 97.6 4 43 172

MODEL III: Starlink Constellation, Gen 2 (May 2020 Filing, 30000 satellites)

I will refer to this as 'Gen2'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 328 30.0 7178 1 7178
A 2 334 40.0 7178 1 7178
A 3 345 53.0 7178 1 7178
B 4 373 75.0 1998 1 1998
B 5 499 53.0 4000 1 4000
C 6 604 148.0 12 12 144
C 7 614 115.7 18 18 324
B 8 360 96.9 40 50 2000

MODEL III-B: Starlink Constellation, Modified Gen 2 Config 1 (Aug 2021 Filing, 30000 satellites)

The revised Gen 2 proposal was filed in Aug 2021; as of Sep 2021 I have not run models for it yet.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 340 53.0 48 110 5280
A 2 345 46.0 48 110 5280
A 3 350 38.0 48 110 5280
A 4 360 96.9 30 120 3600
B 5 525 53.0 28 120 3360
B 6 530 43.0 28 120 3360
B 7 535 33.0 28 120 3360
C 8 604 148.0 12 12 144
C 9 614 115.7 18 18 324

MODEL IV: OneWeb Constellation, Phase 2 (May 2020 Filing, 47844 satellites)

I will refer to this as 'OW2'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 1200 87.9 36 49 1764
B 2 1200 40.0 32 720 23040
C 3 1200 55.0 32 720 23040

MODEL V: Kuiper Constellation (2019 filing, 3236 satellites)

I will refer to this as 'KP1'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 630 51.9 34 34 1156
B 2 610 42.0 36 36 1296
C 3 590 33.0 28 28 784


MODEL VI: OneWeb Constellation (2021 revision, 6372 satellites)

I will refer to this as 'OW2R'.


Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 1200 87.9 36 49 1764
B 2 1200 40.0 32 72 2304
C 3 1200 55.0 32 72 2304


MODEL VII: Chinese GW Constellation (2021 revision, 12992 satellites)

Layer Element Altitude Inclination No of planes Sats per plane Total sats
(km) (deg)
A 1 590 85.0 16 30 480
A 2 600 50.0 40 50 2000
A 3 508 55.0 60 60 3600
B 4 1145 30.0 48 36 1728
B 5 1145 40.0 48 36 1728
B 6 1145 50.0 48 36 1728
B 7 1145 60.0 48 36 1728


Back to Starlink Simulations main page