Title: Attitude Control of the Asteroid Origins Satellite 1 (AOSAT 1),
Abstract: Exploration of asteroids and small-bodies can provide valuable insight into
the origins of the solar system, into the origins of Earth and the origins of
the building blocks of life. However, the low-gravity and unknown surface
conditions of asteroids presents a daunting challenge for surface exploration,
manipulation and for resource processing. This has resulted in the loss of
several landers or shortened missions. Fundamental studies are required to
obtain better readings of the material surface properties and physical models
of these small bodies. The Asteroid Origins Satellite 1 (AOSAT 1) is a CubeSat
centrifuge laboratory that spins at up to 4 rpm to simulate the milligravity
conditions of sub 1 km asteroids. Such a laboratory will help to de-risk
development and testing of landing and resource processing technology for
asteroids. Inside the laboratory are crushed meteorites, the remains of
asteroids. The laboratory is equipped with cameras and actuators to perform a
series of science experiments to better understand material properties and
asteroid surface physics. These results will help to improve our physics models
of asteroids. The CubeSat has been designed to be low-cost and contains 3-axis
magnetorquers and a single reaction-wheel to induce spin. In our work, we first
analyze how the attitude control system will de-tumble the spacecraft after
deployment. Further analysis has been conducted to analyze the impact and
stability of the attitude control system to shifting mass (crushed meteorites)
inside the spacecraft as its spinning in its centrifuge mode. AOSAT 1 will be
the first in a series of low-cost CubeSat centrifuges that will be launched
setting the stage for a larger, permanent, on-orbit centrifuge laboratory for
experiments in planetary science, life sciences and manufacturing.