Design and Validation of the University of Naples Space Magnetic Field Simulator (SMAFIS)

Abstract

This paper discusses the design and validation of the space magnetic field simulator at the university of Naples. The simulator is designed to reproduce, with predetermined uniformity, the magnetic field vector as sensed by an orbiting satellite in the an assigned volume about the simulator's geometrical center. The simulator will be used primarily for ground testing the magnetic attitude control subsystem onboard the university microsatellite SMART. The paper describes the criteria as well as the mathematical model used for the simulator design. The design aims mainly at developing a simulator configuration that maximizes the volume in which the desired magnetic field vector is realized with a predetermined uniformity with respect to a nominal field. The simulator is configured as an open-loop system, in which fixed currents are used to nullify the local magnetic field. Precision currents are then added to the fixed ones to accurately reproduce, in the test volume, the in-orbit magnetic field vector variation. Results of the simulator validation tests are presented.