Calibration and Characterization of Cubesat Magnetic Sensors Using a Helmholtz Cage

<p>Small satellites, and CubeSats in particular, have quickly become a hot topic in the aerospace industry. Attitude determination is currently one of the most intense areas of development for these miniaturized systems and future Cal Poly satellite missions will depend heavily on magnetometers. In order to utilize magnetometers as a viable source of attitude knowledge, precise calibration is required to ensure the greatest accuracy achievable. This paper outlines a procedure for calibrating and testing magnetometers on the next generation of Cal Poly CubeSates, utilizing a Helmholtz cage to simulate any desired orbital magnetic field that would be experienced by a spacecraft around Earth, as well as investigation of magnetic interference as a result of on-board electrical activity.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Aerospace Engineering

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Foley, Justin Dean

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jordi Puig-Suari

• CubeSat
• picosatellite
• small satellite
• Helmholtz
• magnetic
• magnetometer
• Aerospace Engineering
• Engineering

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2012.223

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-1952