Attitude Control of the Asteroid Origins Satellite 1 (AOSAT 1)

Abstract

Exploration of asteroids and small-bodies can provide valuable insight into the origins of the solar system, into the origins of Earth and the origins of the building blocks of life. However, the low-gravity and unknown surface conditions of asteroids presents a daunting challenge for surface exploration, manipulation and for resource processing. This has resulted in the loss of several landers or shortened missions. Fundamental studies are required to obtain better readings of the material surface properties and physical models of these small bodies. The Asteroid Origins Satellite 1 (AOSAT 1) is a CubeSat centrifuge laboratory that spins at up to 4 rpm to simulate the milligravity conditions of sub 1 km asteroids. Such a laboratory will help to de-risk development and testing of landing and resource processing technology for asteroids. Inside the laboratory are crushed meteorites, the remains of asteroids. The laboratory is equipped with cameras and actuators to perform a series of science experiments to better understand material properties and asteroid surface physics. These results will help to improve our physics models of asteroids. The CubeSat has been designed to be low-cost and contains 3-axis magnetorquers and a single reaction-wheel to induce spin. In our work, we first analyze how the attitude control system will de-tumble the spacecraft after deployment. Further analysis has been conducted to analyze the impact and stability of the attitude control system to shifting mass (crushed meteorites) inside the spacecraft as its spinning in its centrifuge mode. AOSAT 1 will be the first in a series of low-cost CubeSat centrifuges that will be launched setting the stage for a larger, permanent, on-orbit centrifuge laboratory for experiments in planetary science, life sciences and manufacturing.