Error estimate for fluxgate magnetometer in-flight calibration on a spinning spacecraft

Abstract. Fluxgate magnetometers are widely used for in situ magnetic field measurements the context of geophysical and solar system studies. Like most experimental studies, using fluxgate constrained by associated uncertainties. To evaluate performance magnetometers, measurement uncertainties calibrated data quantitatively studied a spinning spacecraft. The derived analytically perturbing calibration parameters simplified into first-order expression including offset errors coupling parameter with ambient field. error study shows how uncertainty sources combine through process. final depends on (1) magnitude respect to (2) angle spacecraft spin axis. major factor low-field environment, while (rotation plane, sensor non-orthogonality, misalignment reference directions) become more important high-field environment proportional way formulas serve as useful tool designing high-precision future missions well analysis methods science.