Abstract: Electromagnetic forces and torques are a kind of noncontacting interaction forces and torques. Electrified coils or magnets would be affected by electromagnetic forces and torques in magnetic fields. When electrified coils or magnets interact with each other, the coils or magnets will be imposed with forces or torques in the magnetic field produced by the interaction. As a type of noncontacting forces and torques, the electromagnetic forces and torques have been widely used in spacecraft relative position control and attitude control. This paper mainly introduces the current progress about the application of the electromagnetic forces and torques in geomagnetic fields for spacecraft attitude control. The application of electromagnetic mechanisms mounted on multiple spacecraft for relative position and attitude control is presented as well.

Key words: non contacting electromagnetic force, electromagnetic formation flight, electromagnetic docking, actuator