Session
Technical Session VII: Student Competition
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Attitude determination and control hardware for small satellites is constantly transforming to improve pointing accuracy and stability for target tracking missions. Magnetic attitude control is an effective and inexpensive approach when developing microsatellites for low earth orbit constellation missions. The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has implemented magnetic torquers (magnetorquers) and permanent magnets in previous missions for active and passive magnetic attitude control. A magnetorquer generates a magnetic dipole that torques the spacecraft when in the presence of Earth’s magnetic field. This paper outlines the design, analysis, and testing of an embedded coil magnetorquer for SFL’s SPARTAN and DEFIANT platforms. The SPARTAN magnetorquer was designed to be easily adaptable to other SFL platforms, including the DEFIANT platform which is shown to have only minor modifications. Simulations of sample missions for both platforms show how the magnetorquers are able to detumble the spacecraft after launch vehicle separation as well as mitigate reaction wheel saturation. All flight magnetorquers must go through environmental acceptance testing before they are ready for spacecraft integration. A set of three identical magnetorquers are orthogonally mounted in their respective platforms to enable magnetic dipole generation in all three body axes.
A Versatile Magnetorquer Design for Microsatellite Constellation Missions
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Attitude determination and control hardware for small satellites is constantly transforming to improve pointing accuracy and stability for target tracking missions. Magnetic attitude control is an effective and inexpensive approach when developing microsatellites for low earth orbit constellation missions. The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has implemented magnetic torquers (magnetorquers) and permanent magnets in previous missions for active and passive magnetic attitude control. A magnetorquer generates a magnetic dipole that torques the spacecraft when in the presence of Earth’s magnetic field. This paper outlines the design, analysis, and testing of an embedded coil magnetorquer for SFL’s SPARTAN and DEFIANT platforms. The SPARTAN magnetorquer was designed to be easily adaptable to other SFL platforms, including the DEFIANT platform which is shown to have only minor modifications. Simulations of sample missions for both platforms show how the magnetorquers are able to detumble the spacecraft after launch vehicle separation as well as mitigate reaction wheel saturation. All flight magnetorquers must go through environmental acceptance testing before they are ready for spacecraft integration. A set of three identical magnetorquers are orthogonally mounted in their respective platforms to enable magnetic dipole generation in all three body axes.
