> what's the state of solar powered magnetorquers these days?
Academic. We don't currently have a pressing need for reactionless thrust in the magnetosphere. Each of semiconductors, launch vehicles and telecommunications standards are moving faster than satellites last.
Thanks for the reply.
> Each of semiconductors, launch vehicles and telecommunications standards are moving faster than satellites last.
That's certainly a pragmatic cost based argument for not using them in the fast moving world of commercial magnetosphere constellations.
> Academic.
I feel they've moved past academic and transitioned to deployed .. at some evolution of implementation. Not commercially relevant is certainly one state of play.
I guess I was more interested in the nonlinear control issue in a field of highly variable intensity.