The KiwiSAT "Science Package"
The on-board experiment will focus on the fine attitude control of a small satellite by interaction with the earth's magnetic field.
Originally planned as a dual purpose experiment (to include a simple ozone measurement tool) it was decided to avoid 'splitting the aim' and to concentrate fully on a low cost Attitude Determination and Control System.
This, it was thought, would provide a 'safe' (KISS!) but interesting objective for a first AMSAT-ZL satellite and would at the same time enable us to establish just what level of pointing accuracy could be achieved by simple equipment and smart software. More …
Magnatorque Test rig.
Ground based experiments have demonstrated that the attitude can be precision controlled by means of pulsed magnatorquers to enable the unit to be rotated at various speeds and stopped in selected directions.
The end aim is to be able to have the on-board computer (IHU) stop the satellite in a specific attitude.
If this can be achieved it opens great possibilities for low-cost low-risk satellites which could monitor distant events or enable special communications experiments using high gain/narrow beam width antenna.
