On-orbit magnetic field correction of magnetometers and geometry-based attitude determination for small satellites

In this paper, the use of a magnetometer mounted on small satellites in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is considered for the purpose of the magnetic field correction of magnetometers and the geometry-based attitude determination. The induced magnetic disturbance is estimated using a set of the measured field data from a single magnetometer on orbit. Furthermore, the attitude determination algorithm, which has a simple structure without any filter dynamics, uses the magnetometer and sun sensor data.