Stable Routing and Control System Requirements for Lunar Optical Communication Networks

Future lunar missions will require high-capacity, delay-intolerant communication networks between the Moon and Earth, pushing the need for optical satellite constellations. This study challenges the assumption of perfect line-of-sight communication by accounting for the physical limitations of satellite control systems required to maintain optical links. A routing strategy is proposed that prioritizes stable, longer lasting paths over traditional shortest path solutions, reducing the frequency of satellite slews. A time-varying graph-based framework is used to compare routing methods and estimate the resulting angular velocity and torque requirements imposed to the spacecraft. Results suggests that the stability-aware routing method can reduce the number of reorientation events and lower average control torque requirements, despite a moderate increase in path length. These findings offer a more physically grounded perspective on the feasibility and sustainability of large-scale cislunar optical networks.