An optimization result with application to optimal spacecraft reaction wheel orientation design

This paper provides the globally optimal solution for both minimizing and maximizing the squared Frobenious norm of YQX (where X and Y are arbitrary compatibly dimensioned matrices) over the class of orthogonal matrices Q. The specialization of this optimization result to 3 dimensions is found applicable to optimally orienting spacecraft reaction wheel actuators with respect to specified torque, momentum storage and power requirements.