Miniature Reaction Wheels an Enabling Technology for High Performance Nanosatellites

Current nanosatellite designs are limited by the lack of small, low cost attitude sensing and control components. Although activities are underway to develop sensor technologies, precision pointing and agility also requires miniature reaction wheels. Presently no such wheels exist. We propose to develop a wheel that fills this void, enabling nanosatellites to perform an array of missions requiring precision attitude control (0.01 deg) including: on-orbit rendezvous, docking, servicing, formation flying, inspection, imaging, remote sensing and communications. Our target is an order of magnitude reduction in momentum storage capacity (< 0.1 Nms) and a factor of 5 reduction in cost (< $20,000 per wheel). During Phase I we will develop and deliver the requirements for a miniature low cost reaction wheel, scalable to support a range of nanosatellite masses (1-10 kg). A conceptual design of the wheel and associated drive electronics will be developed and delivered. We will procure and begin preliminary testing of motor and bearing assemblies as a risk reduction effort. We will also validate and deliver our cost model as part of our Phase I final report. During Phase II we will complete the design, build, test and deliver an engineering model wheel and drive electronics.