Multi-Mode Attitude Control of CubeSats: Integrating the Detumbling, Target Pointing and Momentum Desaturation
11th International Conference on Recent Advances in Air and Space Technologies, Conference Program, RAST 2026, İstanbul, Türkiye, 13 - 15 Mayıs 2026, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Doi Numarası: 10.1109/rast69551.2026.11672560
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Anahtar Kelimeler: attitude control, CubeSat, detumbling, momentum desaturation
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Due to initial tumbling effects, CubeSat-class satellites may start rotating at very high angular velocities once they launch. This condition is undesirable for operations such as payload activation, communication pointing, and high- precision observation, all of which require a stable attitude. This paper presents a multi-mode attitude determination and control system architecture for CubeSats and verifies it through simulation. This architecture includes a detumbling mode that uses the time derivative of the Earth's magnetic field and magnetic torque rods to dampen the satellite's motion. It also includes a target-pointing mode that uses reaction wheels and proportional-derivative control with a four-component attitude representation to maintain a desired attitude. Additionally, it includes a momentum dumping mode that allows for magnetically unloaded torque. Mode transitions are based on management logic dependent on the reaction wheel saturation threshold condition. Simulation scenarios demonstrate how the detumbling mode reduces angular rates until a steady attitude is reached through minimizing target-pointing error. The momentum dumping mode then retains control authority by managing momentum accumulation until wheel saturation is reached. The results demonstrate that the integrated, multi-mode attitude control solution can operate under mass and power limitations and meet the needs of a CubeSat mission.