UPMSat-2 ACDS magnetic sensors test campaign

Abstract

The present paper summarizes the testing work carried out in relation to the UPMSat-2 Attitude, Control and Determination Subsystem (ADCS) sensors. The ACDS of this satellite is based on the magnetic interaction with the Earth magnetic field, thus the selected sensors have been magnetometers. This test campaign was carried out in order to check the performance and accuracy of the magnetometers (acceptance tests) and to analyse its effect on the characteristic times of the satellite’s stabilization process once its normal attitude has been perturbed (integration tests). Since the adequate calibration instruments were not available in the institute, for the acceptance tests a simplified method was designed and performed. The proposed methodology allows auto-calibrating the magnetometers, using the Earth magnetic field as reference and without a comparing with calibrated magnetometers. For the integration tests, the estimated errors were introduced in the simulator of the mission in order to analyse its effect on the stabilization time, once the satellite’s attitude is perturbed. The results of the simulations indicate a correct performance of the magnetometers, as the convergence of the satellite attitude to the target one was reached within a reasonable period.