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In recent years, operators such as Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb have launched mega-constellations of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to support their LEO satellite networks (LSNs). These networks have offered a new source of broadband internet, a source which can reach rural or un-serviced areas that do not contain apt terrestrial infrastructure. However, these LSNs are not without idiosyncrasies; relatively high latency and jitter accompany throughput variations. Most notably, though, are frequent packet losses that hinder link usage and consistent traffic flows. This work overviews existing studies and surveys of LSNs to better understand the complexities put forth by satellite dynamics. Then, a measurement study of the OneWeb LSN is presented, documenting and detailing an under-studied network with a focus on reliability. Finally, we examine the potential benefits of erasure codes for maintaining a high TCP cwnd and reducing retransmissions, drastically minimizing the effects of packet loss on traffic flows. We find that with the correct selection of LSN and end-to-end coding technique, LEO satellite networks can function as reliable gateways to the internet for agricultural, maritime, and aerial applications.
