Various aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling the transmit power of a satellite by controlling a duty cycle associated with satellite transmission. In some implementations, a satellite network portal (SNP) may send waveforms to a satellite that relays the waveforms to user terminals (UTs). The SNP may control the duty cycle of the waveform transmission (e.g., by transmitting on a subset of a subframe) to thereby control an average transmission power of the satellite when the satellite transmits to the UTs. In some implementations, a satellite or UT may control the duty cycle of transmission by the satellite (e.g., by transmitting on a subset of a subframe) to thereby control an average transmission power of the satellite when the satellite transmits.