Since magnetic control systems are relatively lightweight, require low power and are inexpensive, they are attractive for small, inexpensive satellites in low Earth orbits. In this thesis we present averaging-based feedback control laws that achieve three-axis stabilized nadir-pointing attitude. Two types of nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed: full-state feedback and passivity-based feedback. Full-state feedback uses the attitude and angular velocity measurements to regulate the spacecrafts dynamics. Passivity-based feedback uses the attitude measurement and doesn’t require the rate sensors. The control laws are tested using two magnetic field models: the tilted dipole model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model. Computer simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws.
","abstract_html":"<p>Since magnetic control systems are relatively lightweight, require low power and are inexpensive, they are attractive for small, inexpensive satellites in low Earth orbits. In this thesis we present averaging-based feedback control laws that achieve three-axis stabilized nadir-pointing attitude. Two types of nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed: full-state feedback and passivity-based feedback. Full-state feedback uses the attitude and angular velocity measurements to regulate the spacecrafts dynamics. Passivity-based feedback uses the attitude measurement and doesn’t require the rate sensors. The control laws are tested using two magnetic field models: the tilted dipole model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model. Computer simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ton, Chau T."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Engineering Physics","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Physical Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mahmut Reyhanoglu","Sergey V. Drakunov","Bereket Berhane"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-07-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-07-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:34Z","subjects":["magnetic stabilization","nadir-pointing","satellites","Aerospace Engineering","Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/199","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Mahmut Reyhanoglu","Sergey V. Drakunov","Bereket Berhane"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ton, Chau T."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physical Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Engineering Physics"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["magnetic stabilization","nadir-pointing","satellites","Aerospace Engineering","Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/199"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Since magnetic control systems are relatively lightweight, require low power and are inexpensive, they are attractive for small, inexpensive satellites in low Earth orbits. In this thesis we present averaging-based feedback control laws that achieve three-axis stabilized nadir-pointing attitude. Two types of nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed: full-state feedback and passivity-based feedback. Full-state feedback uses the attitude and angular velocity measurements to regulate the spacecrafts dynamics. Passivity-based feedback uses the attitude measurement and doesn’t require the rate sensors. The control laws are tested using two magnetic field models: the tilted dipole model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model. Computer simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Magnetic Stabilization of Nadir-Pointing Small Satellites"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mahmut Reyhanoglu","Sergey V. Drakunov","Bereket Berhane"],"dc:creator":["Ton, Chau T."],"dc:description.abstract":["Since magnetic control systems are relatively lightweight, require low power and are inexpensive, they are attractive for small, inexpensive satellites in low Earth orbits. In this thesis we present averaging-based feedback control laws that achieve three-axis stabilized nadir-pointing attitude. Two types of nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed: full-state feedback and passivity-based feedback. Full-state feedback uses the attitude and angular velocity measurements to regulate the spacecrafts dynamics. Passivity-based feedback uses the attitude measurement and doesn’t require the rate sensors. The control laws are tested using two magnetic field models: the tilted dipole model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model. Computer simulations are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/199"],"dc:subject":["magnetic stabilization","nadir-pointing","satellites","Aerospace Engineering","Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering"],"dc:title":["Magnetic Stabilization of Nadir-Pointing Small Satellites"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physical Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Engineering Physics"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:34Z"}