Satellite Link Latency Calculator

Satellite Link Latency Calculator

In global telecommunications, latency is governed by the immutable speed of light. This calculator provides a physics-based estimate of signal travel time between a ground station and a satellite orbit.

The Physics of Delay

1. Lower Earth Orbit (LEO): Satellites like Starlink operate at roughly 550km. The theoretical minimum round-trip time (RTT) is significantly lower than legacy systems.
2. Geostationary Orbit (GEO): Traditional satellites sit at 35,786km. At this distance, the speed of light limits the RTT to a minimum of ~240ms, plus processing delays.

Expert Insight: Why Orbits Matter

For real-time applications like high-frequency trading (HFT), video conferencing, and remote surgery, every millisecond is a strategic asset. While GEO satellites offer global coverage with fewer birds, LEO constellations are required for low-latency 'fiber-like' performance from space.

Common Pitfalls

• Atmospheric Refraction: While minimal in vacuum, weather can add 1-2ms of jitter to the signal.
• Ground Network Routing: The satellite link is only half the journey. The routing between the ground station and the data center often adds more latency than the space link itself.