Payload Data Delivery Solutions and Optimisation for GSaaS Operations

As satellite constellations grow in scale and diversity, efficient payload data delivery has become a critical bottleneck in Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) architectures. This paper investigates various payload data delivery methods and presents optimisation strategies tailored to operational requirements and mission profiles.

We systematically analyze multiple delivery paradigms including real-time streaming protocols (TCP/IP, UDP), standard batch transfer mechanisms (S3/object storage, FTP/SFTP), chunked transfer architectures enabling progressive delivery, and advanced edge-based file transfer solutions leveraging ground-to-satellite return links for enhanced control and error recovery. Each method is evaluated across critical performance metrics: end-to-end latency, throughput efficiency, packet loss tolerance, Automatic Re-reQuest (ARQ) capability, scalability under multi-tenant operations, and infrastructure complexity. Our methodology combines theoretical performance modeling with empirical data from operational Leaf Space ground station networks, providing quantitative benchmarks for each delivery approach.

The research presents use-case-specific optimisation strategies that balance latency requirements against delivery reliability guarantees. We address diverse operational scenarios including near-real-time mission-critical telemetry requiring sub-second delivery, high-volume Earth observation data prioritising throughput over latency, congested or low-quality link environments demanding resilient retry mechanisms, and multi-tenant operations with competing Quality of Service requirements.

Expected outcomes include practical decision frameworks for selecting optimal delivery architectures based on mission constraints, protocol-level optimisation techniques (TCP window tuning, chunking strategies, parallel transfers), and strategies for mitigating both space segment and ground station infrastructure limitations. These findings directly apply to GSaaS providers, satellite operators, and system integrators seeking to maximise data delivery performance while minimising operational costs and complexity.