What requirement causes the satellite count to swell dramatically, contrasting with the small number needed for coverage sometime during 24 hours?

Answer

Uninterrupted, high-speed, low-latency access guaranteed at any second

The satellite count swells dramatically when the definition of coverage moves from passive availability to active, guaranteed service quality. If 'coverage' simply means a signal can reach a spot on Earth at some point during a 24-hour period, the required constellation size remains relatively small, especially in higher orbits. However, modern expectations for internet access demand uninterrupted, high-speed service with low latency guaranteed at any given second. Fulfilling this requirement necessitates significant spatial overlap between coverage footprints and managing the orbital dynamism of fast-moving satellites, compelling engineers to deploy dramatically larger constellations, especially in LEO, to ensure constant connectivity without any interruption between satellite handoffs.

What requirement causes the satellite count to swell dramatically, contrasting with the small number needed for coverage sometime during 24 hours?

Related Questions

What is the widely cited minimum number for continuous Earth coverage using geostationary satellites?What figure approximates the bare minimum LEO satellites needed at an altitude of 1,000 kilometers?Which orbital regime demands massive quantity for minimum delay, contrasting with GEO's few units?Roughly what percentage of the Earth's surface can a single satellite in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) observe ideally?What is the single most important factor determining the required quantity of satellites for coverage?Why do LEO constellations require orders of magnitude more satellites than a GEO system?For practical GEO systems avoiding obstructions, what number of satellites is often proposed beyond the absolute minimum?What significant trade-off is associated with the low count of satellites used in Geostationary Orbit (GEO)?If 48 satellites is the bare minimum for continuous LEO coverage at 1,000 km, what number suggests wider coverage or redundancy at that altitude?What requirement causes the satellite count to swell dramatically, contrasting with the small number needed for coverage sometime during 24 hours?
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