Spacecraft maneuvering is about to get a magnetic upgrade.
Zenno Astronautics has integrated its Supertorquer, touted as the “most powerful magnetic actuator” expected to fly in space, aboard Portal Space Systems’ Starburst-1.
It uses superconducting electromagnets to control a spacecraft’s attitude without chemical propellants or conventional thrusters.
Multiple magnets are arranged along different axes, allowing them to interact with Earth’s magnetic field to generate torque and change the spacecraft’s orientation in medium Earth and geostationary orbits.
The system’s powerful magnetic field may also help shield spacecraft from radiation by deflecting charged particles away.
By reducing the need for propellant-based attitude control, Supertorquer could allow spacecraft to reserve more of their fuel for orbital maneuvers and repositioning.
That could be particularly useful for national security missions, where rapid repositioning and repeated orbital changes can expand operational options while conserving onboard propellant.
Riding Aboard a Spacecraft
Supertorquer will get its first major orbital demonstration aboard Starburst-1, a spacecraft designed for rendezvous and proximity operations, rapid retasking, and movement across different orbital zones.
The mission will provide an opportunity to assess how Supertorquer performs in orbit, including its ability to support spacecraft attitude control during repeated maneuvers.
A charged-particle counter will fly alongside Supertorquer to measure whether its magnetic field can help deflect radiation-causing particles
Zenno sees the mission as a chance to validate the system in space and advance its goal of making Supertorquer a standard component for maneuverable spacecraft.
“Superconductivity is where the next decade of spacecraft maneuverability gets decided,” said Max Arshavsky, Zenno Astronautics CEO and Co-Founder. “Starburst-1 is where we show the industry what that looks like in practice.”
