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Ground-Based Magnetic Attitude Determination for Low-Cost CubeSat Missions
Presenter Information
Johnny McCaskill, Texas State University
Evan Jellison, Texas State University
Jackson Holden, Texas State University
Blagoy Rangelov, Texas State University
Session
Poster Session 1
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
Spacecraft Attitude Determination
Attitude is the orientation of a spacecraft relative to an inertial or Earth-fixed frame and is essential for:
• Communication alignment
• Payload pointing
• Stable spacecraft control
Existing Methods & Limitations
Traditional attitude determination systems use multiple sensors, including:
• Star trackers (high accuracy)
• Gyroscopes (rate tracking, drift-prone)
• Sun sensors and magnetometers (coarse estimates)
These systems are typically combined through sensor fusion to achieve high precision. However, they introduce significant challenges for CubeSats:
• High cost and power consumption
• Increased system complexity
• Larger mass and integration requirements
Proposed Approach
This work explores a low-cost alternative using magnetometer data and orbital information with the World Magnetic Model (WMM). By shifting computation to the ground, the method reduces onboard processing needs.
Motivation
• Enable scalable, low-cost CubeSat missions
• Reduce onboard computational burden
• Simplify spacecraft design while maintaining useful attitude knowledge
Document Type
Event
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Aug 23rd, 12:00 PM
Ground-Based Magnetic Attitude Determination for Low-Cost CubeSat Missions
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Spacecraft Attitude Determination
Attitude is the orientation of a spacecraft relative to an inertial or Earth-fixed frame and is essential for:
• Communication alignment
• Payload pointing
• Stable spacecraft control
Existing Methods & Limitations
Traditional attitude determination systems use multiple sensors, including:
• Star trackers (high accuracy)
• Gyroscopes (rate tracking, drift-prone)
• Sun sensors and magnetometers (coarse estimates)
These systems are typically combined through sensor fusion to achieve high precision. However, they introduce significant challenges for CubeSats:
• High cost and power consumption
• Increased system complexity
• Larger mass and integration requirements
Proposed Approach
This work explores a low-cost alternative using magnetometer data and orbital information with the World Magnetic Model (WMM). By shifting computation to the ground, the method reduces onboard processing needs.
Motivation
• Enable scalable, low-cost CubeSat missions
• Reduce onboard computational burden
• Simplify spacecraft design while maintaining useful attitude knowledge
