MACM Attitude Control Magnetometer
Magson GmbH
Compact tri-axial fluxgate magnetometer for LEO satellite attitude determination, 249 g, 28 V RS485 interface.
Technical specifications
- Supply Voltage
- 16–40 V (nominal 28 V)
- Current Draw
- 30 mA
- Power Consumption
- 0.86 W
- Measurement Range
- +/-120,000 nT
- Resolution
- 228.88 pT/LSB
- Noise (1 Hz)
- < 200 pT/sqrt(Hz)
- Linearity
- +/-0.025%
- Temperature Stability
- < 2.5 nT/K
- Interface
- RS485 @ 38400 baud
- Operating Temperature
- -20 to +60 deg C
- Dimensions
- 138 x 55 x 39 mm
- Mass
- 249 g
- Housing Material
- AlMgSi1 F28 with Alodine 1500 coating
- Mounting
- 4x M3 screws
- Long-term stability
- Offset drift < 3 nT/year
- Flight heritage
- Multiple ESA/DLR/university small-sat missions incl. BIROS and TET; 13 launched satellite projects
About
The MACM (Attitude Control Magnetometer) is a compact tri-axial low-noise fluxgate magnetometer designed to complement the attitude determination sensor suite of LEO platforms. It combines high scientific instrument performance with the low mass and cost requirements of attitude determination and control subsystems, with adjustable dynamic range to user requirements.
The MACM uses vector-compensated ringcore fluxgate sensor technology with downstream digital signal processing electronics implemented in an FPGA, and is available with space-qualified components. Its robust design provides reliable, stable magnetic field vector data across a wide temperature range thanks to a feedback coil system built from copper and aluminum with closely matched thermal expansion coefficients. Each unit is fully calibrated and delivered with mission-specific characterisation data.
The instrument has flight heritage on multiple ESA, DLR, and university-led small satellite missions including BIROS and TET, where it has been used both for scientific measurement and closed-loop attitude control, drawing on Magson heritage across 13 launched satellite projects.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.
