ADCS for PocketQubes
The PocketQube is a novel picosatellite concept still under development. Their small size and mass pose a real challenge when it comes to minimising the size of their systems. In particular, one of the systems still under development is the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS); to date, the lack of space inside the PocketQube has made it necessary to do without this system, limiting the potential of this type of satellites in space missions.
To meet this need, QubeeLab Space Club's proposal is based on the design and
development of an ADCS system for a 1.5P PocketQube, innovative in terms of its size and its manufacture using exclusively Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components.
The system design is divided into two independent payloads: an Autonomous Magnetic Controller (AMC) and an Attitude Determination System (ADS). Both of them are based on magnetic sensors and actuators, solar and thermal sensors and different control codes.
The magnetic controller is composed of a triaxial magnetometer and a series of magnetometers, the action of which is determined by the corresponding control law that is executed on board. On the other hand, the data collected in orbit by the solar and thermal sensors are downloaded and processed on the ground to determine the attitude outside the satellite and validate the implemented control law.
The use of a purely magnetic ADCS has been successfully tested on larger satellites due to its versatility in different modes of operation.
This integrated system allows the picosatellite to be oriented along the Earth's magnetic field lines or with an axis perpendicular to the orbital plane.
