Magnetic control of spacecraft

An apparatus comprising a control system for a satellite, wherein the control system uses magnetics only to control an attitude of the satellite, wherein the control system comprises:

• actuators that actuate a plurality of magnetorquers;
• memory that stores 3-axis magnetometer data and data based thereon;
• a processor, wherein the processor:
• (a) develops, based on a model of the Earth's magnetic field that provides a state of the Earth's magnetic field at each potential waypoint and an ability to use the plurality of magnetorquers to attain an attitude of the satellite at each of plural locations, a set of waypoints for the satellite, wherein the set of waypoints provide the attitude of the satellite at each of the plural locations between the current location at a current time and a future location at a future time;
• and
• (b) sends signals that cause the actuators to actuate the plurality of magnetorquers to induce torques during a time period beginning with the current time and ending at the future time when desired attitude is attained at the future location, wherein the magnetorquers are the sole means of inducing rotation of the satellite to attain the desired attitude.