Notre Dame’s IrishSat Team & CHARMS Mission
Notre Dame’s IrishSat team advances small satellite attitude control with the CHARMS payload
CHARMS – Control of Hardware Attitude using Reliable Magnetorquers Satellite
The Control of Hardware Attitude using Reliable Magnetorquers Satellite (CHARMS) is a response to the attitude control problem that small satellites face. Designed as a modular, low-power, and low-cost magnetorquer-only ADCS, CHARMS supports satellites as small as 0.5U (10 cm × 10 cm × 5 cm). It offers a plug-and-play solution requiring only power and serial communication with the host satellite bus, with no dependence on system-external inputs.
Its reduced yet sufficient sensor suite, compact architecture, and autonomous operation make it scalable, practical, and highly adaptable. CHARMS represents a critical advancement in democratizing access to space, enabling the next generation of small satellites to achieve precise attitude control without compromising size, cost, or power and ensuring mission viability beyond the moment of deployment.
Follow Notre Dame’s IrishSat team at ndirishsat.com to learn more about their work.
High-Altitude Balloon Testing
As part of the Dream Big mission, student payloads were tested on high-altitude balloons reaching nearly 90,000 ft. These flights provided a near-space environment similar to orbit, giving teams the chance to evaluate their payloads under real conditions.
Beyond testing, the balloon launches also became an incredible outreach opportunity. Sparking curiosity and inspiring younger students to explore space research and education.
Click below to see one of IrishSat’s balloon launch results!
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