Method for identifying growth limits of handheld services for mobile satellite communications

An apparatus for operating a satellite constellation, comprising:

• means for calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate;
• means for determining at least one operational constraint on each satellite, the at least one operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can transmit substantially simultaneously;
• means for determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using information including the at least one operational constraint and the calculated maximum number of communications signals;
• and
• means for determining an operational point for each satellite in the satellite constellation from the operational space for each satellite in the constellation.