Articles | Volume 8, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-63-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-63-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Advanced calibration of magnetometers on spin-stabilized spacecraft based on parameter decoupling
Ferdinand Plaschke
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
Hans-Ulrich Auster
Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Braunschweig University of Technology, Braunschweig, Germany
David Fischer
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
Karl-Heinz Fornaçon
Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Braunschweig University of Technology, Braunschweig, Germany
Werner Magnes
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
Ingo Richter
Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Braunschweig University of Technology, Braunschweig, Germany
Dragos Constantinescu
Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Braunschweig University of Technology, Braunschweig, Germany
Yasuhito Narita
Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria
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Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- How many solar wind data are sufficient for accurate fluxgate magnetometer offset determinations? F. Plaschke https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-285-2019
- Disturbance-aligned-frame gradiometer technique for removal of spacecraft-generated disturbances from the BepiColombo magnetic field data O. Constantinescu et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02337-z
- Long‐Term Bias Stability of the GOES‐NOP Magnetometers S. Califf et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003035
- Error estimate for fluxgate magnetometer in-flight calibration on a spinning spacecraft Y. Narita et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-13-2021
- THEMIS: spin axis magnetic field reconstruction A. Pöppelwerth et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-273-2026
- Flight Calibration of the Van Allen Probe Magnetometers B. Vasquez et al. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/aba62e
- The BepiColombo–Mio Magnetometer en Route to Mercury W. Baumjohann et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00754-y
- Magnetometer Calibration and Missile Attitude Filtering Method Based on Energy Estimation Y. Xiaolong et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3217507
- Space Weather Magnetometer Aboard GEO-KOMPSAT-2A W. Magnes et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00742-2
- Astro Pi sensor onboard the International Space Station as magnetic field surveyor A. Blagau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.03.021
- Calculating the Electron Diffusion Region Aspect Ratio With Magnetic Field Gradients S. Heuer et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100652
- Comparison of noise levels of two magnetometer types and their suitability for different space environments G. Timmermann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-14-447-2025
- Iridium Communications Satellite Constellation Data for Study of Earth's Magnetic Field B. Anderson et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009515
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- How many solar wind data are sufficient for accurate fluxgate magnetometer offset determinations? F. Plaschke https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-285-2019
- Disturbance-aligned-frame gradiometer technique for removal of spacecraft-generated disturbances from the BepiColombo magnetic field data O. Constantinescu et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02337-z
- Long‐Term Bias Stability of the GOES‐NOP Magnetometers S. Califf et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003035
- Error estimate for fluxgate magnetometer in-flight calibration on a spinning spacecraft Y. Narita et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-13-2021
- THEMIS: spin axis magnetic field reconstruction A. Pöppelwerth et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-273-2026
- Flight Calibration of the Van Allen Probe Magnetometers B. Vasquez et al. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/aba62e
- The BepiColombo–Mio Magnetometer en Route to Mercury W. Baumjohann et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00754-y
- Magnetometer Calibration and Missile Attitude Filtering Method Based on Energy Estimation Y. Xiaolong et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3217507
- Space Weather Magnetometer Aboard GEO-KOMPSAT-2A W. Magnes et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00742-2
- Astro Pi sensor onboard the International Space Station as magnetic field surveyor A. Blagau et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.03.021
- Calculating the Electron Diffusion Region Aspect Ratio With Magnetic Field Gradients S. Heuer et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100652
- Comparison of noise levels of two magnetometer types and their suitability for different space environments G. Timmermann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-14-447-2025
- Iridium Communications Satellite Constellation Data for Study of Earth's Magnetic Field B. Anderson et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009515
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 10 Nov 2026
Short summary
Raw output of spacecraft magnetometers has to be converted into meaningful units and coordinate systems before it is usable for scientific applications. This conversion is defined by 12 calibration parameters, 8 of which are more easily determined in flight if the spacecraft is spinning. We present theory and advanced algorithms to determine these eight parameters. They take into account the physical magnetometer and spacecraft behavior, making them superior to previously published algorithms.
Raw output of spacecraft magnetometers has to be converted into meaningful units and coordinate...