1. The heist plan

The Quantum Thief is full of elaborate plans that depend on timing, misdirection, and knowing exactly where everyone is. An ADCS test matrix is a less glamorous heist: it schedules when each sensor will be checked, each actuator exercised, and each failure injected. The goal is to steal confidence from uncertainty.

2. Sensor tests

Test Purpose Key measurements
Star tracker calibration Verify accuracy and noise Pointing error, acquisition time, false stars
Stray-light rejection Confirm operation with Earth/sun/moon outside FOV Acquisition and hold under illumination
Sun sensor calibration Verify FOV and accuracy Angle error across field
Magnetometer calibration Map sensor to known field Residuals after hard/soft-iron compensation
Gyro characterization Measure bias, scale factor, noise Drift over temperature, ARW
GNSS timing and position Verify position/velocity accuracy Position fix latency and error

3. Actuator tests

Test Purpose Key measurements
Reaction wheel torque Verify torque and momentum capacity Torque linearity, friction, ripple
Wheel vibration Check disturbance to payloads Acceleration at wheel speed harmonics
Magnetorquer dipole Verify torque in known field Dipole moment, residual
Thruster torque coupling Measure thrust-vector offset Torque per firing, repeatability

4. Closed-loop and operational tests

Test Purpose Key measurements
Lost-in-space acquisition Recover attitude from unknown state Acquisition time, success rate
Pointing hold Maintain each pointing mode Pointing error, stability, power
Slew maneuver Transition between targets Slew time, settling, overshoot
Disturbance rejection Recover from impulse torque Settling time, peak error
Momentum dumping Desaturate wheels Time, propellant or power used
Sensor fault injection Verify filter rejects bad data Residuals, recovery time
Safe mode entry/exit Confirm survival behavior Sun acquisition, ground contact
ADCS-propulsion integration Hold attitude during burn Pointing error, momentum change

5. Test philosophy

Write the pointing-error budget and the fault-response requirements before the tests. A test that shows the platform can point to within 0.1 degree is only meaningful if the requirement is 0.1 degree or looser.