Magnetorquers rods are a method of controlling the attitude of a spacecraft either directly, by interacting with the local Earth's magnetic field or, more usually, in combination with reaction wheels. This secondary method allows for the dumping of excess momentum in the reaction wheels without the need for a complex propulsion system.

The NSS magnetorquer rods use a magnetic alloy rod which produces an amplification effect over an air-cored magnetorquer. This allows a system that utilizes less power and is less susceptible to magnetic torque variations due to temperature. Each rod is typically bifilar wound for redundancy, or the windings can be activated together to increase the torque produced. While drive circuits for the rods can be supplied if required, they typically run directly between a switched power output and the onboard power control system.