NPSAT1 Magnetic Attitude Control System

Abstract

This paper describes the design and performance verification of a magnetically controlled smallsat being built by students and staff at the Naval Postgraduate School. The spacecraft (NPSAT1) will carry a number of experiments, including two sponsored by the Naval Research Lab and a commercial, off-the-shelf digital camera. Since NPSAT1 will be a secondary payload, it must be designed for a large mission box at minimum cost. Attitude control pointing requirements are less than 10° and an active magnetic control system is planned. NPSAT1 is manifested on the Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP) MLV-05, Delta IV mission, due to launch in January 2006.