A resilient virtual ground multiple-access (RVG-MA) satellite communication system includes a number of ground receivers in communication with multiple satellites. The RVG-MA satellite communication system further includes a number of processing units in communication with the ground receivers. Each processing unit can recover a downlink signal from a target satellite. Each ground receiver includes a small-aperture antenna and receives downlink signals associated with multiple satellites, and the ground receivers are distributed over a large geographic area.