Systems and methods for communication link adaptation and communication networks involving ground-based user equipment and non-terrestrial stations. A communication is received indicating signal quality of a first signal transmitted during a first transmission period and a plurality of fading losses associated with the first signal are obtained. A first fading loss and a second fading loss associated with the first signal are estimated for a future time, the first fading loss based on application of a first filter, and the second fading loss based on differences determined between the first fading loss and the plurality of fading losses. A signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio is calculated and includes at least one of the first fading loss and the second fading loss. A non-terrestrial station transmits, for a second time period, a second signal having settings determined based on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio.