image: The paper proposes an open and shared sustainable mega-constellation with the "cloud-pool-terminal" paradigm and "Sensors+Network+AI (SANI)" architecture, reshaping the satellite service mode and effectively solving the challenges of space environment sustainability.
Credit: ©Science China Press
The rapid deployment of mega-constellations such as Starlink has led to a surge in satellite numbers, with over 1 million satellites proposed globally. The space is facing an unprecedented "congestion crisis". This congestion threatens space sustainability, increasing collision risks, space debris, and radio interference. The 《Nature》and《Science》 have continuously warned that according to the current development model, the number of space satellites in near-Earth orbit will exceed the limit of safe capacity, and the space environment will no longer be sustainable. More than 100 scientists wrote to the International Telecommunication Union, suggesting to stop the launch of the Starlink.
To tackle this problem, a team led by researchers from the National University of Defense Technology developed OSSMC, inspired by the Internet’s open-sharing model. The core innovation lies in two key aspects: (1) SNAI Architecture: Satellites are modularized into sensors, networks, and AI-driven computing units, enabling dynamic resource sharing across satellites. This openness eliminates redundancy, as resources are allocated on-demand rather than being fixed to single functions.
(2) CPT Paradigm: A global shared resource pool connects space cloud platforms, satellite pools, and user terminals. This allows cross-border collaboration, replacing redundant national constellations with a unified infrastructure—similar to the way the computing resources are shared over the Internet.
Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the OSSMC yields significant advancements in satellite efficiency, operational performance, and space sustainability. Notably, in terms of satellite quantity optimization, the OSSMC will stabilize at approximately 48,000 satellites by 2036, while still delivering customized, real-time services to a global population of 8 billion. In terms of operational performance gains, its task success rate exhibits a substantial increase from 26.21% to 45.73%, and its navigation accuracy quantified by GDOP, is enhanced by 51.07% relative to existing navigation enhancement systems such as Centispace. In terms of space sustainability, compared to traditional constellation systems, OSSMC reduces the probability of space volume collisions by 28.7% and the orbital impact score by 53.15%, effectively reducing the risks associated with space debris dispersion.
"It is an open and shared sustainable mega-constellation (OSSMC) technical solution for the development of space-based intelligence." Yang Jun said," This plan kills two birds with one stone, which not only addresses the problem of sustainable development of space systems, but also solves the problems existing in the co-construction, sharing and using of space systems, and provides valuable China solution for building a community with a shared future for mankind in space systems."
OSSMC transforms space systems from fragmented national deployments to a shared infrastructure, and it proves that 50,000 satellites, not millions, can meet global needs sustainably." This approach not only solves orbital congestion but also promotes equitable access to space resources, aligning with the UN Outer Space Treaty’s vision of shared orbital heritage.
See the article:
Open and Shared Sustainable Mega-Constellation
https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwaf344
Journal
National Science Review