In the future, Low-Earth Orbit satellite constellations will directly provide cellular services from space. Especiallyfor large-scale disasters, where desperately needed communication infrastructure is often severely damaged ordestroyed, this may be a significant game-changer for disaster relief efforts. However, limited or partial availabilityof satellite connectivity may be more probable than full coverage in the next years. This paper proposes andinvestigates a possible integration of direct-to-cell satellite communication in decentralized disaster networks,facilitating a combination of delay-tolerant networking with limited satellite availability. Simulation results indicatethat already a few satellite links positively impact communication performance, increasing network connectivityand message spread in a city-wide disaster scenario with user mobility.
