Optimized Design and Thermal Analysis of Printed Magnetorquer for Attitude Control of Reconfigurable Nanosatellites

Abstract

Attitude Control System (ACS) is one of the critical subsystems of any spacecraft andtypically is in charge of de-tumbling, controlling and orienting the satellite after initial deployment and during the satellite operations. The magnetorquer is a core magnetic attitude control actuator and, therefore, a good choice for nanosatellite attitude stabilization. There are various methods to achieve control torque using the magnetorquer. An innovative design of printed magnetorquer has been proposed for the nanosatellites which is modular, scalable, cost effective, less prone to failure, with reduced harness and power consumption since the traces are printed either on top layer or inner layers of the printed circuit board. The analysis in terms of generated torque with a range of input applied voltages, trace widths, outer and inner-most trace lengths is presented to achieve the optimized design.The optimum operating voltage is selected to generate the desired torque while optimizing the torque to the power ratio. The results of analysis in terms of selection of optimized parameters including torque to power ratio, generated magnetic dipole moment and power consumption have been validated practically on a cubesat panel. The printed magnetorquer configuration is modular which is useful to achieve mission level stabilization requirements. For spin stabilized satellites, the rotation time analysis has been performed using the printed magnetorquer.

Aalto-1, multi-payload CubeSat: In-orbit results and lessons learned

“…Although detumbling with the B-dot controller was successful, many other mission modes, including controlled spin up for tether deployment, were not successful. The ADCS commissioning modes, including the spin up manoeuvre, has been tried with the magnetorquers only [6,5]. The reaction wheels showed inconsistencies in their power reading during the early commissioning phase and thus have not been thoroughly tested yet.…”

“…A large number countries initiated their space activities and a large number of Newspace companies emerged as an outcome. A number of innovative platform subsystems, payloads and missions have been proposed, designed and launched by universities and small industry thanks to significantly reduction of development and launch costs [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. This has been made possible due to availability of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS), technology miniaturization and affordable rides.…”

Optimized Ferromagnetic Core Magnetorquer Design and Testing for LEO Nanosatellite Attitude Control

“…PCB printed planar coils are also used. The volume occupied by this kind of magnetorquer is very small and it also benefits the integration with its electronics [22]- [23]. Typically, different types of magnetorquer actuators are combined in an attitude control system for a suitable coordinated operation.…”