Session
Advanced Technologies Research & Academia 2
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
Reaction wheels are a primary source of micro-vibrations aboard satellite platforms, limiting the fine-pointing capability of spacecraft. This paper presents a novel passive magnetic bearing reaction wheel featuring a magnetic–mechanical suspension to reduce operational vibration emissions compared with conventional ball bearing systems. The proposed suspension architecture combines radial permanent magnetic bearings with an axial single-point-contact ball pivot bearing, resulting in a compact, fully passive solution tailored for the SmallSat market. To demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, a hardware prototype was manufactured and tested. Stable operation is achieved across the full operational range up to 4800 rpm. The experimental campaign evaluated both functional performance and micro-vibration characteristics of the bearing concept. Results demonstrate low suspension power losses and reduced vibration levels at higher frequencies, while indicating potential for further reduction of low-frequency disturbances through improved rotor balancing. These findings highlight the potential of passive magnetic–mechanical suspensions for a new generation of low-disturbance SmallSat reaction wheels.
Document Type
Event
Design of a Passive Magnetic Bearing Reaction Wheel for SmallSats and Its Micro-Vibration Performance
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Reaction wheels are a primary source of micro-vibrations aboard satellite platforms, limiting the fine-pointing capability of spacecraft. This paper presents a novel passive magnetic bearing reaction wheel featuring a magnetic–mechanical suspension to reduce operational vibration emissions compared with conventional ball bearing systems. The proposed suspension architecture combines radial permanent magnetic bearings with an axial single-point-contact ball pivot bearing, resulting in a compact, fully passive solution tailored for the SmallSat market. To demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, a hardware prototype was manufactured and tested. Stable operation is achieved across the full operational range up to 4800 rpm. The experimental campaign evaluated both functional performance and micro-vibration characteristics of the bearing concept. Results demonstrate low suspension power losses and reduced vibration levels at higher frequencies, while indicating potential for further reduction of low-frequency disturbances through improved rotor balancing. These findings highlight the potential of passive magnetic–mechanical suspensions for a new generation of low-disturbance SmallSat reaction wheels.
