Abstract

Spacecraft attitude control system simulator helps to create an environment utilized for
simulating attitude control system of satellites. A set of three inertial wheels is used as primary
actuators for the attitude control. A flywheel is a wheel or a disk with significant moment of
inertia. It is used as a storage device for rotational energy. i.e. momentum can be imparted on it
or taken away from it. The simulator provides a real-time freedom of motion in any one axis of
rotation. The spacecraft simulators are widely used to develop and verify spacecraft control
techniques required by modern spacecraft applications. The simulator find many applications in
ongoing research like the formation flying of the satellites, flywheel energy management, non
linear compensation of an under actuated system, the problems of attitude and orbit control and
development of reaction wheels are being researched. Also the simulator provides the flexibility
to experimentally implement many types of control techniques. The simulator is employed to
develop, improve and carry out the objective tests of the actuators and the algorithms developed
for the attitude control of the spacecraft

Plan of Action:

Fabrication of the fly wheel:

Fly wheels can be fabricated by mounting a bronze or aluminium wheel with the brushless DC
motor. The wheel is rotated at the maximum speed which produces a torque for the attitude
control of the spacecraft. The difference in momentum helps to orient the spacecraft to the
required attitude. The speed control of the motor helps to create the difference in momentum for
the required attitude orientation.

Magnetic torquerods:
Control systems with the magnetic coils can be effectively used to carry out pointing maneuvers
at the low earth orbits. Magnetic control system don’t have any moving parts, hence the
reduction in the nutation created by the actuators is controlled. Magnetic torquerods helps to
create the torque by the interaction of the magnetic field intensity of the earth with the magnetic
field created in the spacecraft.

Tb= M x B

Tb=torque generated

M= magnetic field generated in the spacecraft

B= magnetic field intensity if the earth.

PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL SETUP