On the one hand, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) emerge as a promising solution to meet the demand for higher data rates, improved coverage, and efficient spectrum utilization. On the other hand, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) offer unprecedented possibilities for global connectivity. Moreover, the NTN can also support the upsurge in the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices by providing reliable and ubiquitous connectivity. Although NTNs have shown promising results, there are several challenges associated with their usage, such as signal propagation delays, interference, security, etc. In this article, we have discussed the possibilities of integrating RIS with an NTN platform to overcome the issues associated with NTN. Furthermore, through experimental validation, we have demonstrated that the RIS-assisted NTN can play a pivotal role in improving the performance of the entire communication system.

翻译：一方面，可重构智能表面（RIS）作为满足更高数据速率、更广覆盖范围和更高效频谱利用率需求的前景解决方案崭露头角。另一方面，非地面网络（NTN）为全球连接提供了前所未有的可能性。此外，NTN还能通过提供可靠且无处不在的连接，支持物联网（IoT）设备数量的激增。尽管NTN已展现出令人瞩目的成果，但其应用仍面临信号传播延迟、干扰、安全性等诸多挑战。本文探讨了将RIS与NTN平台集成以克服NTN相关问题的可能性。进一步地，通过实验验证，我们证明了RIS辅助的NTN在提升整个通信系统性能方面可发挥关键作用。