Method and satellite system for scheduling forward link resource allocations and return link resource allocations of a satellite link

A satellite system comprising:

• a base station;
• a wireless device;
• a satellite configured to support a satellite link between the base station and the wireless device;
• the base station configured to:
• determine a forward link quality of a forward link of the satellite link and a return link quality of a return link of the satellite link;
• determine a forward data rate requirement for a forward timing interval and a return data rate requirement for a return timing interval for the wireless device;
• determine a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of at least one of the forward link or the return link based on the forward link quality, the return link quality, the forward data rate requirement and the return data rate requirement, a MCS of the other of the forward link and the return link, and the forward timing interval and the return timing interval;
• schedule forward link resource allocations and return link resource allocations of the wireless device based on the MCS of the forward link, the MCS of the return link, a forward data rate requirement and a return data rate requirement, and the forward timing interval and the return timing interval;
• and
• wirelessly communicate with the wireless device according to the scheduled forward link resource allocations and return link resource allocations.