The Cal Poly Attitude Control System (ACS) utilizes reaction wheels angled at 29.3 degrees to optimize performance and redundancy. This specific angle is strategically chosen to ensure that each wheel is directed towards the center of mass (CoM) of the spacecraft. The design avoids the use of three reaction wheels, which would create a single point of failure, and also circumvents the weight issues associated with using six wheels. Instead, the reaction wheels are arranged on the edges of the triangular faces of a right square pyramid to achieve effective control with minimal weight.
PREREQUISITESAerospace engineers, spacecraft designers, and students interested in spacecraft control systems will benefit from this discussion.