Design and Development of Table-Top Spacecraft Attitude Control Testbed Using Pyramidal Configuration Control Moment Gyroscopes

Ground Based Spacecraft Attitude Control Testbeds provide a high fidelity, system level testing and troubleshooting of control systems, and algorithms, structural parameters and actuator configurations operated in space like environment. The research focuses on the comprehensive development of a tabletop spacecraft attitude control testbed at Space Dynamics and Flight Control Laboratory, IIT Kanpur utilizing a pyramidal configuration of Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs). The study includes attitude dynamics, steering law and control algorithm simulations, mechanical design and embedded system architecture. The testbed is designed to analyze real time spacecraft attitude control strategies through precise actuation techniques. Additionally, the research explores the mechanical design challenges, sensor integration and computational requirements for spacecraft control.