Research on the Influence of Ground Coverage Performance Due to Large-scale Failures in LEO Mega Satellite Constellations

A method is developed to analyze the degradation patterns of ground coverage performance in low Earth orbit （LEO）mega-constellations following large-scale failures induced by satellite breakup events. The systemic performance degradation caused by debris propagation across constellation networks is addressed，where debris dispersion disrupts normal satellite operations. The proposed framework utilizes a node superposition-based algorithm for rapid calculation of multiple line coverage intervals，with the constellation's latitudinal zone coverage rate serving as the primary evaluation metric. By integrating debris dispersion dynamics post-satellite disintegration，two distinct failure scenarios are modeled：natural random failures and sequential failures along orbital planes. The degradation behavior of classical LEO mega-constellation architectures is systematically evaluated under both scenarios. Results demonstrate that sequential orbital plane failures induce more pronounced coverage degradation compared to random failures，with accelerated performance decline observed as failure rates increase. Critical thresholds are identified where coverage efficiency undergoes abrupt changes：at approximately 40% failure rate，a significant inflection point is observed，followed by the steepest decline when failure rates reach 75%. These findings provide novel insights into failure propagation mechanisms within LEO mega constellations，offering quantitative guidance for developing robust emergency response protocols.