Pioneering the Application of Diamagnetic Materials for Spacecraft Attitude Control

Developed by a student team at the University of Victoria, the ECOSat2 cube satellite is a demonstration platform for communications and attitude control technologies useful in small satellites. Its scientific payload is an experimental attitude control actuator that uses a diamagnetic material called pyrolytic graphite. We seek to demonstrate that this diamagnetic effect can be used to control the attitude of small satellites in Earth orbit, and thereby inspire research into developing materials with stronger diamagnetic properties and further their use in spacecraft control.