US 12,103,713 B1
Attitude determination and control system (ADCS)
Nicholas Dallmann, Los Alamos, NM (US); James Wren, Los Alamos, NM (US); Michael Proicou, Los Alamos, NM (US); Hannah Mohr, Los Alamos, NM (US); Jerry Delapp, Los Alamos, NM (US); John Martinez, Los Alamos, NM (US); Daniel Seitz, Los Alamos, NM (US); Paul Stein, Los Alamos, NM (US); and Adam Warniment, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Assigned to Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed by Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/049,942.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/540,296, filed on Aug. 2, 2017.
Int. Cl. B64G 1/24 (2006.01); B64G 1/28 (2006.01); B64G 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/244 (2019.05) [B64G 1/285 (2013.01); B64G 1/286 (2013.01); B64G 1/32 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An attitude determination and control system (ADCS) for a space vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of momentum wheels;
a plurality of magnetic torque rods arranged in a perpendicular orientation with respect to one another, the plurality of magnetic torque rods each configured to generate torque when a current is applied thereto; and
a processing card comprising a processor, the processing card configured to algorithmically select and control at least one of the plurality of momentum wheels, the plurality of magnetic torque rods, or both, to execute a desired maneuver, wherein
the processor of the ADCS is different from a processor of another processing card of the space vehicle that performs command and data handling (C&DH) for the space vehicle, and
the processing card comprises at least one recess through which at least one respective momentum wheel of the plurality of momentum wheels extends, thereby improving compactness of the ADCS.