Researchers in China have proposed a novel solution to the growing crisis of orbital overcrowding: a shared, open-source satellite network designed to function like the internet. This collaborative model, called the Open and Shared Sustainable Mega-Constellation (OSSMC), aims to replace the current approach of deploying massive, competing satellite fleets with a unified and interoperable infrastructure, potentially slashing the number of required satellites from a projected one million to fewer than 50,000.
The proposal, detailed in the National Science Review, confronts the escalating threat of Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where cascading collisions create a debris field so dense that it could render low-Earth orbit (LEO) unusable. With multiple private companies and nations planning vast, proprietary constellations, the risk of collisions, radio interference, and unsustainable space debris is mounting. The OSSMC framework suggests a radical shift toward a cooperative, resource-efficient model that treats satellite capabilities as a shared global utility, much like cloud computing, to ensure the long-term viability of space-based activities.
A New Architectural Framework
The core of the OSSMC proposal rests on two significant architectural innovations designed to make satellite systems modular, flexible, and interconnected. This approach moves away from traditional single-function satellites, which often lead to redundant hardware in orbit. The goal is to create a disaggregated system where resources can be pooled and allocated on demand, serving diverse needs without launching duplicative constellations for every new service or provider.
The SNAI and CPT Models
The first key innovation is the “Sensors–Network–AI” (SNAI) architecture. This model breaks down satellite functions into three fundamental components: sensors for data acquisition, networks for communication, and artificial intelligence for onboard computation and processing. By standardizing these modules, satellites become flexible nodes in a larger network. This allows for the dynamic sharing of resources; for instance, a satellite’s idle computing power or sensor capacity could be seamlessly allocated to another user or task, eliminating the need for each satellite to be a self-contained, single-purpose “island.”
Complementing the SNAI architecture is the “Cloud–Pool–Terminal” (CPT) paradigm. This system treats orbiting satellites as nodes in a space-based cloud platform. A global resource pool would connect these space cloud nodes with satellite pools and user terminals on the ground. This structure enables cross-border and cross-constellation collaboration, effectively creating a unified infrastructure that replaces the need for redundant national or corporate systems. Users could access space-based resources much like they access computing power on the internet, requesting services from the shared pool rather than relying on a specific, proprietary satellite.
Simulated Benefits and Performance Gains
To validate the proposed system, the research team conducted simulations comparing the OSSMC model to existing and planned mega-constellations. The results suggest significant improvements in efficiency, cost, and orbital sustainability. By adopting this open-source framework, the global community could meet its needs with fewer than 50,000 satellites, a dramatic reduction from the more than one million currently planned by various entities. This reduction alone would fundamentally alter the risk landscape in low-Earth orbit.
The simulations demonstrated quantifiable gains in several key areas. The OSSMC model was found to lower overall costs by approximately 19.15% while simultaneously improving positional accuracy—a key metric for navigation systems—by 51.07%. Furthermore, the system increased the task success rate from 26.21% to 45.73% in simulations, indicating a more efficient use of in-orbit assets. This efficiency stems from the resource-pooling model, which ensures that sensor, communication, and computing capabilities are used to their full potential across the network.
Addressing Orbital Congestion
The primary driver for the OSSMC concept is the urgent need to ensure the sustainable use of space. The rapid deployment of mega-constellations like Starlink has created what experts call an unprecedented “congestion crisis.” Current projections estimate that the safe capacity of LEO could be around 175,000 satellites, a number that would be quickly surpassed under current launch plans. The OSSMC approach directly tackles this issue by reducing the total number of satellites required.
Reducing Collision Risk
Fewer satellites inherently means more space between them, lowering the probability of collisions. The study’s simulations showed that the OSSMC framework reduces the probability of space volume collisions by 28.7% compared to traditional constellation designs. It also lowers the “Orbit Impact Score,” a measure of collision risk, by a significant 53.15%. By preventing the launch of hundreds of thousands of duplicative satellites, the model helps preserve orbital highways and lessens the accumulation of space debris that threatens all space activities.
Geopolitical and Implementation Hurdles
Despite its technical promise, the path to implementing a global, open-source satellite network is fraught with geopolitical challenges. The current space environment is characterized by intense competition, not collaboration, between nations and corporations. Major constellations like Starlink have military applications and are considered strategic national assets, making an open, shared platform a difficult proposition.
Restrictions on the use of Chinese technology, coupled with national security concerns, present significant barriers to the trust and cooperation required for such a system to work. Building a truly global infrastructure would necessitate unprecedented international agreements on standards, governance, and data sharing. However, the researchers argue that the open-source philosophy of shared standards and collective innovation offers a powerful model for sustainable growth in space. The OSSMC framework, if realized, could transform orbital infrastructure into a cooperative system aligned with the vision of the UN Outer Space Treaty, which frames orbit as a shared heritage for humankind.
