Delivery of EPM Payload for CUAVA-2

CUAVA is excited to announce the delivery of the Electro Permanent Magnetorquer (EPM) payload, in preparation for integration into the CUAVA-2 Satellite, scheduled for launch in early 2024.  

The Electro Permanent Magnetorquer is a CubeSat-ready magnetorquer designed by a team at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME) at the University of Sydney. The team comprises of Zihao Wang, Xiaofeng Wu and Youngho Eun. 

Unlike conventional magnetometers, the electro-permanent magnetorquer utilises hard magnetic materials at the core. A driving circuit is designed to alter the dipole moment of the magnetorquer. The experiments show that the electro-permanent magnetorquer can generate up to 1.2 Am² dipole moment in either direction. The magnetorquer works in pulse mode to adjust the dipole moment, requiring maximum energy of around 0.75 Joule per pulse.

A single-axis detumbling experiment has been conducted using two torquer rod on an air bearing table, inside an in-house manufactured Helmholtz cage. The experiment results show that the magnetorquer can detumble with ~0.1 kgm² moment-of inertia from an initial speed of around 24deg/s to near zero within 1,300s, and with a total energy of 1300 J consumed for the detumbling experiment.

The EPM payload serves as a technology demonstration payload. It has great commercial potential. The team intends to evolve it into a product once it has gained flight heritage.

We now commence integration into the CUAVA-2 CubeSat, in preparation for launch in early 2024. Congratulations to the payload team!

Keep up to date with our news and events blog as we spotlight CUAVA-2 payload deliveries.