Micro CMGs for agile small satellites: Design and in-orbit tests

Small Satellites have become useful and intelligent spacecraft with sophisticated attitude control and determination systems. However, near future missions will require from these platforms a higher degree of agility with a simultaneous need for better efficiency. Control Moment Gyros are an ideal candidate technology with a unique capability to efficiently produce large torques and angular momentum with a small power consumption and savings in mass. The paper describes the design and in-orbit testing of an experimental payload of a two CMG cluster for an earth observation microsatellite, BILSAT-1. The two CMG cluster is analysed and simulations detail the performance features of the CMGs. Initial in-orbit results on the CMGs and the BILSAT-1 microsatellite are presented along with a plan on future manoeuvres/experiments and new CMG developments for small satellites