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Rocket Lab Reaction Wheels

Component
Admin Edit
Class: Attitude ControlSubclass: Reaction WheelOrganization: Rocket Lab
Specifications
Verified technical details with source attribution
SpecificationValueSources
IntegrationIncorporated in all Photon spacecraft
Rocket Lab Completes Custom-Built Photon Spacecraft for Varda Space Industries
ManufacturerRocket Lab
Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component production
Rocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star Tracker
Target MarketConstellation customers
Rocket Lab Spacecraft Manufacturing - Updates & Discussion
Customer CountEnabled over 530 customers' spacecraft
Rocket Lab Spacecraft Manufacturing - Updates & Discussion
Acquisition OriginAcquired from Sinclair Interplanetary in April 2020
Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component productionRocket Lab expands spacecraft component production
Production FacilitySinclair by Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star TrackerRocket Lab Launched New Constellation-Class Star Tracker for Satellite Navigation and ControlRocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star Tracker
Annual Production CapacityUp to 2,000 reaction wheels per year
Rocket Lab’s Space Systems Division Expands Their Manufacturing Footprint
Pre Acquisition Production Rate100-150 reaction wheels per year
Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component production
Additional Information
Extra fields from the product other_info JSON column.

Other Info

Product Function

Value

Spacecraft attitude control for precise alignment maintenance

Sources

25a83890 A577 4a89 8e34 A408e87fbed8

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

1

Related Components

Value

Star trackers, propulsion, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, separation systems

Sources

A23e5eae 03e4 43ca 92f0 41cb79e179b8

Conflicts

None

Corroboration Count

1
Synthesis Evidence
All fact sentences used in this product synthesis.

“As of January 15, 2025, Rocket Lab's reaction wheels had enabled over 530 customers' spacecraft to maintain precise alignment in space.”

Rocket Lab Spacecraft Manufacturing - Updates & DiscussionFeb 3, 202625a83890-a577-4a89-8e34-a408e87fbed8

“As of November 19, 2024, Rocket Lab ships pallets of reaction wheels to constellation customers.”

Rocket Lab Spacecraft Manufacturing - Updates & DiscussionFeb 3, 2026816d5a42-5c40-4194-9c9e-e2c377be0734

“All Photon spacecraft incorporate Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured components and software including star trackers, propulsion, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.”

Rocket Lab Completes Custom-Built Photon Spacecraft for Varda Space IndustriesMay 9, 2023a23e5eae-03e4-43ca-92f0-41cb79e179b8

“The ST-16HV will be manufactured at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility where Rocket Lab already mass produces reaction wheels.”

Rocket Lab Launched New Constellation-Class Star Tracker for Satellite Navigation and ControlApr 19, 2023c93380fa-e760-42fa-acb2-d22218fab4a5

“The ST-16HV will be manufactured at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility where Rocket Lab already mass produces reaction wheels.”

Rocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star TrackerApr 13, 2023a23ea1aa-2720-4142-a567-b86c72757e4c

“Rocket Lab’s Space Systems Division mass produces reaction wheels at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility.”

Rocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star TrackerApr 13, 2023faa81415-c485-4558-8a51-1e2785a8995b

“Rocket Lab began offering reaction wheels after acquiring Sinclair Interplanetary in April 2020.”

Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component productionSep 2, 20219dd6970a-872f-4f54-ba68-e234c6775ea1

“Sinclair Interplanetary produced between 100 and 150 reaction wheels per year before its acquisition by Rocket Lab.”

Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component productionSep 2, 2021c2fb9171-2246-4aa0-9b06-e784f94f158c

“Rocket Lab USA, Inc. is constructing a new production facility capable of supplying as many as 2,000 reaction wheels per year.”

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems Division Expands Their Manufacturing FootprintSep 1, 2021a2b3f931-b383-491b-bcba-701271635a2c
Mention Sources
All source documents that mention this product.
Rocket Lab Spacecraft Manufacturing - Updates & Discussion2 mentions

Feb 3, 2026

Rocket Lab Launches New Constellation-Class Star Tracker2 mentions

Apr 13, 2023

Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component production2 mentions

Sep 2, 2021

Varda Space Industries1 mention

Feb 4, 2026

SDA Tranche 2 contract award to Rocket Lab1 mention

Feb 3, 2026

RFA Announces Eight Customers for Second Test Flight of RFA ONE Launcher1 mention

Nov 29, 2023

Rocket Lab Spacecraft Built for Varda Successfully Operating on Orbit1 mention

Jun 16, 2023

Rocket Lab Spacecraft Built for Varda Space Industries Successfully Starts On Orbit Operations1 mention

Jun 14, 2023

Rocket Lab spacecraft built for Varda are successfully operating on-orbit1 mention

Jun 12, 2023

Rocket Lab Completes Photon Spacecraft for Varda Space Industries1 mention

May 11, 2023

Rocket Lab Ships Completed Custom-Built Photon Spacecraft for Varda Space Industries1 mention

May 10, 2023

Rocket Lab Completes Custom-Built Photon Spacecraft for Varda Space Industries1 mention

May 9, 2023

Rocket Lab Launched New Constellation-Class Star Tracker for Satellite Navigation and Control1 mention

Apr 19, 2023

AAC Clyde Space wins SEK 6.1 M order for smallsat reaction wheels1 mention

Feb 8, 2023

Globalstar selects MDA and Rocket Lab for new satellites1 mention

Feb 24, 2022

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems Division Expands Their Manufacturing Footprint1 mention

Sep 1, 2021

ADCS-1_20251 mention
Entity Mentions
All verified mentions of this entity in source documents

The Varda spacecraft incorporates Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured star trackers, a propulsion system, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSourceJun 14, 2023

The ST-16HV will be manufactured at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility where Rocket Lab already mass produces reaction wheels.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceApr 19, 2023

Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft designed for Varda incorporate Rocket Lab-designed radios, reaction wheels, and star trackers and perform multiple burns with the 3D-printed Curie engine to place Varda's re-entry capsule on a return trajectory.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceFeb 4, 2026

All Photon spacecraft incorporate Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured components and software including star trackers, propulsion, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceMay 9, 2023

The Varda spacecraft incorporates Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured star trackers, propulsion system, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceJun 16, 2023

Rocket Lab began offering reaction wheels after acquiring Sinclair Interplanetary in April 2020.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceSep 2, 2021

The Varda spacecraft incorporates Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured components and software including star trackers, propulsion system, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceJun 12, 2023

As of November 19, 2024, Rocket Lab ships pallets of reaction wheels to constellation customers.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceFeb 3, 2026

All Photon spacecraft incorporate Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured components and software including star trackers, propulsion, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceMay 10, 2023

All Photon spacecraft incorporate Rocket Lab-designed and manufactured components and software including star trackers, propulsion, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, radios, composite structures and tanks, and separation systems.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceMay 11, 2023

As of January 15, 2025, Rocket Lab's reaction wheels had enabled over 530 customers' spacecraft to maintain precise alignment in space.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceFeb 3, 2026

Blue Canyon Technologies' standard ADCS solutions include star trackers, reaction wheels, torque rods, and coarse sun sensors.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSource

VIBES Pioneer from Hochschule Bremen is a 3U CubeSat hosting an optical payload with a disturbance measurement and management system that logs reaction-wheel-induced perturbations with accelerometers.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceNov 29, 2023

AAC Clyde Space won a USD 0.59 million (approximately SEK 6.1 million) order for reaction wheels.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSourceFeb 8, 2023

Sinclair Interplanetary produced between 100 and 150 reaction wheels per year before its acquisition by Rocket Lab.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceSep 2, 2021

Rocket Lab will manufacture the satellite buses and will use solar panels, structures, reaction wheels, and software from companies it acquired in the last two years.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceFeb 24, 2022

All 18 T2TL-B satellites will integrate subsystems and components built in-house by Rocket Lab, including solar panels, structures, star trackers, reaction wheels, radio, flight software, and avionics.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSourceFeb 3, 2026

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. is constructing a new production facility capable of supplying as many as 2,000 reaction wheels per year.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSourceSep 1, 2021

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems Division mass produces reaction wheels at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility.

Mentioned as: Reaction WheelsSourceApr 13, 2023

The ST-16HV will be manufactured at the Sinclair by Rocket Lab facility where Rocket Lab already mass produces reaction wheels.

Mentioned as: reaction wheelsSourceApr 13, 2023