6 ms·
I can't quite tell, I think this is describing a miniaturised momentum wheel [1], but I had the impression that control moment gyroscopes [2] where generally pr
by NickNameNick 10y ago
I can't quite tell, I think this is describing a miniaturised momentum wheel [1], but I had the impression that control moment gyroscopes [2] where generally preferred.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_wheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_wheel
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_moment_gyroscope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_moment_gyroscope
- dnautics 10y agocmgs are preferred for larger satellites. momentum wheels for smaller sats.
- chris_va 10y agoFor really small satellites, magnetorquers seem to be a better tradeoff.
- planteen 10y agoYou aren't going to have much agility with torque rods. A small satellite can move a few degrees per second with reaction wheels. A large spacecraft needs CMGs to get the same slew rate.
- chris_va 10y agoNope, but mosts small satellites don't need to do much except keep pointing at the same ground angle.
- planteen 10y agoThere is a growing market for small spacecraft to be able to point very accuratley (as in 10 arcseconds or so). Blue Canyon Technologies XACT is attitude control in a box for a Cube Sat - star tracker, reaction wheels, torque rods, magnetometer, and gyro. This enables lots of imaging applications.