Foundations of LEO Satellite Edge Computing: An Empirical Study Based on the Hypatia Simulator
Tien Dinh
Committee: Lei Jiao (chair), Jun Li
Masters Thesis(Jul 2023)
Keywords: Hypatia simulator; LEO satellite network; Low Earth Orbit; Satellite distance

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to revolutionize global connectivity. SpaceX, Amazon, and Telesat are the most prominent players aiming to provide global internet coverage and high-speed broadband connectivity. Despite significant advancements and ongoing research in the field, there have only been a few studies that managed to construct a comprehensive, scaled simulator for LEO satellite networks. Project Hypatia developed by Amazon stands out as one of the few publications that has effectively accomplished such a task. This thesis builds upon the foundation of Hypatia to explore and provide an insight into the key aspects of LEO satellite networks. Our research consists of two main components: firstly, addressing fundamental issues such as network topology, routing delay, handover, and service provisioning in LEO satellite networks, and secondly, deploying code on top of Hypatia to analyze and explore these issues in depth. All in all, this thesis aims to deepen the understanding of LEO satellite networks through the examination of the Hypatia simulator and its implications.