Magnetic Simulator Testbed for APSCO Student Small Satellite Project

Abstract

The Student Small Satellite (SSS) is a university project of Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), composed by one microsatellite (SSS-1) and two 3U CubeSats (SSS-2A and SSS-2B). Regarding SSS-1 and SSS-2A satellites, the active 3-axis magnetic control strategy has been applied in the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). In this paper, the necessary study for the development of a Magnetic Simulator Testbed for the SSS-1 and SSS-2A satellites was performed using one pairs of Helmholtz coils for each axis of rotation (X, Y, Z). Each pair of coil can generate a sufficiently large and stable magnetic field that simulate the Earth’s magnetic field but with a reliable level of accuracy, to perform the ADCS test on the satellites. Matlab software was used to generate the propagation of the orbit for the satellites, to calculate the Earth’s magnetic field around that orbit and simulate a pair of Helmholtz coil in each axis of rotation to reproduce the Earth’s magnetic field using the Biot-Savart Law. The results obtained for propagation of the orbit, calculation of terrestrial magnetic field and reproduction of the magnetic field through the Magnetic Simulator Testbed, were very close to the results obtained in important researches previously consulted, giving reliability to this research and allowing an analysis to determine the real physical size that Magnetic Testbed should have. The size determined, is very close to what was expected, allowing to conclude the reliability and viability of the development of the Magnetic Testbed for APSCO SSS Project.