ED004-0044
Magnetic Field Measurement Suite for CubeSat Applications

Monday, 7 December 2020
Poster
Brady Strabel1, Isaac Narrett1, Lauro Ojeda2, Leonardo Regoli1, Amílcar Rincón-Charris3 and Mark B. Moldwin1, (1)University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, (2)University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, (3)Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Mechanical Engineering Department, Bayamon, PR, United States
Abstract:
A magnetic field measurement suite intended for CubeSat and ground-based geomagnetic applications is presented. The system is composed of commercial-off-the-shelf sensors (COTS), which include four PNI RM3100 magnetometers, a Bosch BMI270 inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a TMP36 thermal sensor. The instruments are collectively operated by a Texas Instrument’s MSP430FR5949 microcontroller. The novel measurement principle employed by the magnetometers permits a low fabrication cost, power consumption, and footprint; in turn, this enables the incorporation of four magnetometers (theoretically many more), reducing the magnetic noise floor and increasing the resolution by a factor of two in this case. Additionally, the inclusion of a COTS IMU allows us to reliably establish the orientation of the sensor package, thus permitting a better understanding of the geometry of the surrounding magnetic field under static or dynamic conditions. The system has been tested and characterized in a controlled laboratory environment with the intent of flying aboard the PR-CuNaR2 CubeSat, set to launch early next year. This mission will raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of the system (current TRL is approximately 4/5) and provide us with valuable measurements of the magnetic environment at Low-Earth-Orbit.
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>