Characterisation of Satellite Onboard Magnetometer for MIST

Abstract: The most common equipment used for attitude determination in small satellites are magnetometers. However, using magnetometers gives rise to many challenges. One of these challenges is the calibration of the magnetometer. Magnetometer calibration takes many factors into account. There are external and internal factors. External factors can be the satellite itself. Satellites are built of many complex subsystems. These subsystems can produce magnetic disturbances and affect the measurements taken by the magnetometer ,which also affects the attitude determination of the satellite. Internal factors are nonorthogonalityand scale factors. In this project, we aim to test different calibration methods and compare the results. Another objective is to provide a complete procedure for a calibration of the magnetometer using the Helmholtz coils. The comparison of the results with other methods can help with the decision of which should be used to calibrate the magnetometer onboard the satellite for future calibrations for MIST satellites.