SSBV CubeSat Magnetorquer Rod

Magnetorquers control spacecraft attitude either directly by interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, or in combination with reaction wheels to dump excess wheel momentum without a propulsion system. This CubeSat magnetorquer rod uses a magnetic alloy core to produce an amplification effect over an air-cored design, reducing power draw and enabling increased manoeuvrability and reduced detumble rates.

The rod is designed to operate from a 5V power line through an H-bridge for bi-directional moments, with an optional pulse-width modulator for precise moment control. Applications include active damping for spin-stabilized, momentum-biased and gravity-gradient controlled CubeSats, and momentum dumping of reaction wheels in three-axis stabilized spacecraft.