NCAT4.2 released

The Non-GEO Constellations Analysis Toolkit (NCAT), the leading user-friendly Web App running analytics models on satellite constellations has a new version (4.2) that includes:

Enhanced 'throughput' link budget tool

NCAT users can now edit the default inputs, add custom satellite payloads, gateway antennas and user terminals. User modifications can be applied either to NCAT-surveyed systems or user’s custom systems.

• NCAT4.2 extends link budget support to GEO-HTS satellites with steerable beams of fixed size.
• Sample LEO, MEO and GEO satellite payloads and antennas are provided for users to edit and apply to the simulations.

More sample orbital (TLE) sets

In addition to supporting the analysis of any multi-orbit satcom system, the NCAT platform continues incorporating features supporting other satellite and space sectors. NCAT4.2 can run visibility simulations for earth observation (EO) and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems.

• Toolkit users can either leverage downloadable TLE files or input custom TLE sets in text format to drive orbit and satellite position calculations for any satellite system. This allows NCAT users to run simulations on existing or future systems with unique geometries.
• Users can use/edit existing two-line ephemerides (TLE) data for EO and PNT systems including: EO: Planet Labs, Spire, Swarm | PNT: GPS (US), Galileo (EU), Glonass (Russia), Beidou (China) | Other: Orbcomm, ISS (international space station) and all active GEO satellites.

Support for custom TLEs extends NCAT functionality beyond satcom. For instance, NCAT users can run pass-time simulations for EO (Earth observation) systems or infer PNT-system timing and location precision based on the number of satellites “in view” above a definable minimum elevation angle for the (GPS) receivers.

New ‘Charts’ tool

Benchmarking constellation metrics at multiple levels

• Bar, pie and other charts are automatically generated after users select the constellation shell/s and run link-budget-tool analysis
• Chart series can be enabled/disabled by clicking on the legend.

All charts are downloadable in PDF format and the datasets are downloadable in tabular, spreadsheet-compatible CSV format.

Other enhancements since the 4.0 release

D2D (direct to device) channel capacity calculator (Beta) - with 3GPP LTE link adaptation: Users assess the theoretical uplink and downlink channel capacity for emerging D2D, sat-to-cell constellations across a range of user equipment look angles (smartphone or other)

Daily orbital readings for all operational satellites: The NCAT server records orbital readings daily for all NCAT-surveyed systems with in-orbit and operating satellites. The position, speed, eccentricity and other orbital characteristics are updated daily for thousands of satellites, allowing NCAT users to -effortlessly- run accurate simulations using fresh data. Orbital readings are refreshed daily for: 

• Starlink (all operational shells), SES MEO (O3B and mPOWER), OneWeb, Iridium and Globalstar. Also for Amazon Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile and LYNK prototype satellites.

Expanded shell and gateway tables: 90+ shells and over 370+ gateway stations surveyed, updated and recorded in the NCAT database.

• Most gateway stations are stored with precise geolocation data so users can view them on Google Maps' satellite images.
• This can be useful to verify constellations’ ground-network expansion or construction pace.

Calculators tool: New infographics for connected trains, cruise, offshore, broadband roaming (RVs), remote broadband and D2D.

The Non-GEO Constellations Analysis Toolkit (NCAT) is an assembly of easy-to-use analytics models to assess and benchmark LEO and MEO satellite constellations. To learn more about NCAT:

• Watch brief videos on YouTube
• Read use cases here on Linkedin
• Download the NCAT white paper
• Visit the NCAT info page on the Analysys Mason website
• Contact Analysys Mason