for controlling the attitude of a satellite placed on a low earth orbit , components of a vector bm of the earth &# 39 ; s magnetic field along three measurement axes of a frame of reference bound with the satellite are measured . the orientation of the earth &# 39 ; s magnetic field in the frame of reference is computed and a derivative bm of the vector is also computed . magneto - couplers carried by the satellite are energized to create a torque for spinning the satellite at an angular frequency ωc about a determined spin axis of the satellite , where ωc is greater than an orbital angular frequency 2ω 0 of the satellite .