Cold Gas Reaction Control System for the Near Earth Asteroid Scout CubeSat

Abstract: This paper describes the Attitude Control System (ACS) for the Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout cubesat with particular focus on the Reaction Control System (RCS). NEA Scout is a 6U cubesat with an 86 square-meter solar sail. NEA Scout will launch on Space Launch System (SLS) Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), currently scheduled to launch in 2018. The spacecraft will rendezvous with an asteroid after a two year journey, and will conduct science imagery. The ACS consists of three major actuating su…