HawkSat-x1865: Zero-Gravity Flight Test of Low-Cost Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) of a 1-U CubeSat

ZEMICHAEL GEBEYEHU, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS AEROSPACE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

HawkSat-x1865 is an experimental 1-U CubeSat to test a low-cost Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) with custom-built reaction wheels and control algorithms.

HawkSat-x1865 has 3D printed (PLA) chassis with compartments for Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) in the top section. The reaction wheels are custom-designed Stainless-Steel wheels powered with a hobby Brushless DC (BLDC) motor of 7500 kV to meet the momentum requirement of the CubeSat. As a main microcontroller, the CubeSat utilizes Raspberry Pi 3B+ with 9 DOF IMU. It is powered by two Lithium-Ion batteries and a custom power management system with 7.4 V of output.

There were two main goals for the Horizon 2022 Zero-G flight. The first goal was to test all three axes of rotation control and stability, independently as well as compound rotation and stability. The second goal was to collect attitude data during Martian, Lunar, and Zero-Gravity periods of the flight. From the flight, we were able to gather valuable attitude data to further tune our control loop algorithms as well as further modify the dimensions of the reaction wheels.

The ADCS system will be part of a technology demonstration 3-U CubeSat, HawkSat-1865. This CubeSat is part of Lehigh University Space Initiative’s CubeSat Program, a SEDS chapter and a student-run organization at Lehigh University. The final goal of the project is to submit proposals to NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative (CLSI) and other rideshare programs to secure launch opportunities.

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