Design and implementation project of an aircraft mobile node module for the SeamSAT-LEO constellation simulator

LEO satellite networks have become a growing item of interest in the last years. This new technology will revolutionize the internet, allowing communications all along the globe. Furthermore, thanks to LEO networks, it will now become possible to track flying aircraft with global coverage. Previous to LEO and GEO satellite networks, airlines did not have means to properly track aircraft flying through inter-oceanic routes. Hence, this technology will improve safety and reliability levels of aviation all over the world. As a result, air traffic is expected to be optimised, which shall in turn, allow to fly more sustainably. Such interest in this new technology has motivated the development of this project. The aim of this thesis is to design and implement an aircraft mobile node module for the SILLEO-SeamSAT constellation simulator, which would allow to study communications between aircraft and LEO satellite networks. For this purpose, a software tool has been developed in order to save and process real flights which shall be uploaded to the simulator. The results of this project will allow to determine the viability and performance of communications between aircraft and LEO satellite networks with global coverage.