Spacecraft attitude control using quanternion parameters

This paper present an attitude control using quaternions as feedback attitude errors. The Euler's eigenaxis rotation provides the shortest angular path between two attitudes. This eigenaxis rotation can be achieved by using quaternions since quaternions are related with the eigenaxis. The suggested controller uses error quaternions and body angular rates and generates a decoupling control torque that counteracts the natural gyroscopic coupling torque. The momentum dumping strategy using the earth magnetic field is also applied in this paper to unload the angular momentum of the reaction wheels used in the attitude control.