NSS CubeSat ACS solution
NewSpace Systems (NSS)
The NSS CubeSat ACS board is a single PC104 board integrating sun sensors, a magnetometer, MEMS gyros, a stellar gyro, and magnetorquer rods for attitude determination and control of CubeSats.
Technical specifications
- Form factor
- Single PC104 board
- Height
- 15 mm
- Integrated sensors
- 3 high accuracy sun sensors, magnetometer, MEMS gyros, stellar gyro
- Integrated actuators
- 2 magnetorquer rods
- External interfaces
- 3 further sun sensors, momentum/reaction wheels, Z-axis torquer rods
- Sun sensor accuracy
- +/-0.5 degree
- Eclipse drift (Stellar Gyro)
- < 0.1 degree (typically)
- GPS integration
- Optional, via mezzanine board
- GPS interface
- UART
- Main control interface
- I2C
About
The NewSpace Systems (NSS) ACS board is a single PC104 board (15mm height) designed for CubeSat Attitude Control Systems. It physically integrates three high-accuracy sun sensors, a magnetometer, MEMS gyros, a stellar gyro, and two magnetorquer rods. External interfaces allow for the addition of three further sun sensors, momentum or reaction wheels, and Z-axis torquer rods. The solution combines data from MEMS gyros with a stellar gyro to achieve precise rate knowledge with no drift, ensuring exceptional performance during eclipse periods at a fraction of the cost of a star mapper solution. The +/-0.5 degree accurate sun sensors and precision magnetometer provide an absolute pointing solution when sunlit. In eclipse, attitude is propagated by the gyro combination, with the stellar gyro permitting a drift of typically less than 0.1 degree throughout the entirety of this orbit phase. A GPS receiver can also be integrated into the NSS ACS board via a mezzanine board for orbit position knowledge, which enhances the fidelity of the magnetometer by improving position knowledge compared to an orbit propagator. The NSS GPS is independently controlled through a UART interface, while all other functionality is controlled via a single I2C interface. The NSS ACS board can be supplied either partially populated (e.g., with sensors and actuators for simple magnetic stabilization or safe mode control) or as a complete solution. It can be customized based on client requirements. Additionally, each of the NSS sensors and actuators, as well as the GPS receiver, are available individually.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.