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Space Networking Kit: A Novel Simulation Platform for Emerging LEO Mega-constellations

Xiangtong Wang, Xiaodong Han, Menglong Yang, Songchen Han, Wei Li

TL;DR

Space Networking Kit (SNK) addresses the need for a practical tool to evaluate LEO mega-constellations by integrating space-motion visualization with network-aware simulation. Its four-module architecture—SNK-Scenario, SNK-Visualizer, SNK-Server, and SNK-Analyzer—facilitates end-to-end scenario generation, real-time visualization, server-side routing computation, and analytical metrics. The paper demonstrates comparisons between shortest-path and least-hop routing, and analyzes how network structure and density affect latency, path stretch, throughput, and capacity, offering actionable design insights. The open-source release aims to democratize validation and accelerate research in space networking by bridging orbital dynamics with packet-level performance analysis.

Abstract

This paper presents SNK, a novel simulation platform designed to evaluate the network performance of constellation systems for global Internet services. SNK offers realtime communication visualization and supports the simulation of routing between edge node of network. The platform enables the evaluation of routing and network performance metrics such as latency, stretch, network capacity, and throughput under different network structures and density. The effectiveness of SNK is demonstrated through various simulation cases, including the routing between fixed edge stations or mobile edge stations and analysis of space network structures.

Space Networking Kit: A Novel Simulation Platform for Emerging LEO Mega-constellations

TL;DR

Space Networking Kit (SNK) addresses the need for a practical tool to evaluate LEO mega-constellations by integrating space-motion visualization with network-aware simulation. Its four-module architecture—SNK-Scenario, SNK-Visualizer, SNK-Server, and SNK-Analyzer—facilitates end-to-end scenario generation, real-time visualization, server-side routing computation, and analytical metrics. The paper demonstrates comparisons between shortest-path and least-hop routing, and analyzes how network structure and density affect latency, path stretch, throughput, and capacity, offering actionable design insights. The open-source release aims to democratize validation and accelerate research in space networking by bridging orbital dynamics with packet-level performance analysis.

Abstract

This paper presents SNK, a novel simulation platform designed to evaluate the network performance of constellation systems for global Internet services. SNK offers realtime communication visualization and supports the simulation of routing between edge node of network. The platform enables the evaluation of routing and network performance metrics such as latency, stretch, network capacity, and throughput under different network structures and density. The effectiveness of SNK is demonstrated through various simulation cases, including the routing between fixed edge stations or mobile edge stations and analysis of space network structures.
Paper Structure (17 sections, 8 figures, 3 tables)

This paper contains 17 sections, 8 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. The SNK platform
  3. System overview and workflow
  4. SNK-Scenario
  5. SNK-Visualizer
  6. SNK-Server
  7. API subsystem
  8. Procedure subsystem
  9. Simulation cases
  10. The Local View
  11. Fixed edge station routing
  12. Mobile station routing
  13. The Global View
  14. Structure analysis
  15. Density Analysis
  16. ...and 2 more sections

Figures (8)

  • Figure 1: The overview and workflow of SNK.
  • Figure 2: The entities constructed by SNK-Scenario are displayed in SNK-Visualizer.
  • Figure 3: Space network structures.
  • Figure 4: The routing path can be visualized in SNK-Visualizer in real time when the enable "Watch" mode.
  • Figure 5: Space network structures.
  • ...and 3 more figures