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Magnetic Field Measurement Suite for CubeSat Applications
  • Isaac Narrett,
  • Brady Strabel
Isaac Narrett
University of Michigan

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Brady Strabel
University of Michigan
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Abstract

A magnetic field measurement suite intended for CubeSat and ground-based geomagnetic applications is presented. The system is composed of commercial-off-the-shelf sensors (COTS), which include four PNI RM3100 magnetometers, a Bosch BMI270 inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a TMP36 thermal sensor. The instruments are collectively operated by a Texas Instrument’s MSP430FR5949 microcontroller. The novel measurement principle employed by the magnetometers permits a low fabrication cost, power consumption, and footprint; in turn, this enables the incorporation of four magnetometers (theoretically many more), reducing the magnetic noise floor and increasing the resolution by a factor of two in this case. Additionally, the inclusion of a COTS IMU allows us to reliably establish the orientation of the sensor package, thus permitting a better understanding of the geometry of the surrounding magnetic field under static or dynamic conditions. The system has been tested and characterized in a controlled laboratory environment with the intent of flying aboard the PR-CuNaR2 CubeSat, set to launch early next year. This mission will raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of the system (current TRL is approximately 4/5) and provide us with valuable measurements of the magnetic environment at Low-Earth-Orbit.