ASTROFEIN ACS Test Bed

The ASTROFEIN ACS Test Bed is designed for the complete end-to-end verification of Attitude Control Systems (ACS) for mini and microsatellites. It facilitates complex simulations, including long-term tests, with high target accuracy. The system is an ideal extension to software-in-the-loop (SILS) and hardware-in-the-loop (HILS) testing, addressing specific design and testing requirements. Key features include a mounting platform on an air bearing table that allows free 360° rotation around the vertical axis and 20° – 30° rotation around the horizontal axis. It provides high-precision in-orbit magnetic field simulation, electronic center of gravity (CoG) calibration, and adjustable/movable sun simulation. The test bed is equipped with a WLAN command interface, safety mechanisms for smooth operation, and a power supply for the test object. The high-precision air bearing and non-contact air gap calibration minimize disturbance forces, mimicking in-orbit disturbance torques of lower Earth orbits. The platform includes a mounting plate with a mechanical interface for the Device Under Test (DUT), a CoG calibration system, power supply, and various equipment. Optional extensions include GNSS simulation, supporting all current GNSS signals (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Bei-Dou-2, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN, SDCM, QZSS, IRNSS), and star image simulation, which can deliver signals for up to four optical heads simultaneously, simulating stars, planets, sun, moon, scattered light, and protons. An external reference system based on 3D motion tracking measures the position of the platform and test specimen independently, visualizing it in the control software and logging it with simulation data. For CubeSats, the NanoSat Test Bed is available as a stand-alone system or an add-on, featuring a smaller air bearing with ultra-low disturbance torque, full satellite mounting and testing, integration support, very low added Moment of Inertia (MOI) to the test object, and compatibility with CubeSats from 3U to 16U in different orientations.