Architectures and Synchronization Techniques for Distributed Satellite Systems: A Survey

Cohesive Distributed Satellite Systems (CDSSs) is a key enabling technology for the future of remote sensing and communication missions. However, they have to meet strict synchronization requirements before their use generalized. When clock or local oscillator signals are generated locally at each distributed nodes, achieving exact in absolute phase, frequency, time complex problem. In addition, satellite systems significant resource constraints, especially small satellites, which envisioned be part CDSSs. Thus, development precise, robust, resource-efficient techniques essential advancement this context, survey aims summarize categorize most relevant results on (DSSs). First, some important architecture system concepts defined. Then, methods reported literature reviewed categorized. This article also provides an extensive list applications examples DSSs addition advances other operations closely related synchronization, such as inter-satellite ranging relative position. The discussion emerging data-driven based Machine Learning (ML). Finally, compilation current research activities potential topics proposed, identifying problems open challenges that can useful researchers field.