Abstract The average Earth's magnetic field has been solved with complex mathematical models based on mean square integral. Depending on the selection of the Earth magnetic model, the average Earth's magnetic field can have different solutions. This paper presents a new technique that takes advantage of the damping effects of the b-dot controller and is not dependent on the Earth magnetic model. This new technique combines the intuitive notions of classical control system analysis with simple mathematics, reducing the estimation of the average magnetic field to a simple inverse Laplace transform problem. Also the solution of this new technique can be implemented so easily that the flight software can be updated during flight, and the control system can have current gains for the magnetic torquers. Finally, this technique is verified and validated using flight data from a satellite that has been in orbit for 3 years.
Highlights Develop a simplified method to determine the average Earth's magnetic field. Validate and verify the new method with an orbiting satellite. Demonstrate how this method can be used during flight operations. Provide comments about using this new method for magnetic control systems.
The b-dot Earth average magnetic field
Acta Astronautica ; 95 ; 92-100
2013-10-20
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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