Satellite Miniaturization Study and Experimental Integration of Reaction Wheels in a PoketQube Satellite

The miniaturization of satellite components has revolutionized the space industry by allowing for the development of smaller, cheaper, and more efficient satellites. This trend has been fueled by advancements in technology, such as the development of microelectronics and nanotechnology, which have enabled the creation of smaller and more powerful components. As the demand for smaller and more affordable satellites grows, the need for smaller and more efficient subsystems becomes more pressing. This thesis will explore the State of the Art of miniaturized technologies for each subsystem typically present in a small spacecraft and the perspectives of their development. After that, the Attitude Determination and Control System will be taken more into consideration focusing on the physical limit of one of its main components, the Reaction Wheels, with both analytical and statistical analysis. At the end, to validate the theory a model of PocketQube Satellite following the main standard specification has been developed trying to integrate three reaction wheels in it and running some tests to see what are actually their capabilities with a limited Mass, Volume and Power budgets.