Canadian Space Agency Awards R&D Funding to Rocket Lab
Developing Develop New Reaction Wheel for Medium-Class Satellites
The Canadian Space Agency has awarded research and development funding to Rocket Lab to develop a new medium-class reaction wheel, with targeted minimum angular momentum capacity of 25 Nms, designed to support 500kg – 1,000kg (≈1,100-2,200 pound) satellites with larger payloads operating in low Earth orbit and beyond.
“The space industry is rapidly evolving and so is the demand for reliable, flight-proven components for satellites of all sizes.”
Brad Clevenger, Rocket Lab
Awarded through the CSA’s Space Technology Development Program to Rocket Lab’s Canadian subsidiary, the contract aims to accelerate the development of Canadian-designed and built space technologies and strengthen the domestic commercial supply chain. Rocket Lab was one of only 18 companies selected as a part of a broader $14.2 million CAD (≈$10.31 million US) investment in Canadian space innovation. Rocket Lab will receive $999,951 CAD (≈$726,264 US) toward the development of the new reaction wheel which will be developed and qualified at Rocket Lab’s Toronto facility, which has been a cornerstone of Canada’s satellite hardware ecosystem for more than two decades.
“The space industry is rapidly evolving and so is the demand for reliable, flight-proven components for satellites of all sizes,” said Brad Clevenger, president, Rocket Lab USA. We’re proud to support the CSA’s initiative by delivering a Canadian-designed, Canadian-built, cost-effective reaction wheel that builds on more than 20 years of flight heritage. Designed and manufactured in Toronto, this new product will expand our portfolio with a high-performance solution tailored for next-generation applications.”
Rocket Lab currently offers a portfolio of flight-proven and affordable reaction wheels that have flown in more than 300 satellites, ranging from 1kg (≈2.2 pound) CubeSats to spacecraft over 1,000 kg. The new reaction wheel will be developed to support larger and wider satellites that experience significant moments of inertia, enabling the Company to serve a growing market segment and deliver even more value as an end-to-end space systems provider.
Since acquiring Toronto-based Sinclair Interplanetary in 2020, Rocket Lab has significantly expanded its footprint in Canada, designing and delivering best-in-class satellite attitude determination and control hardware to spacecraft bound for the Low Earth Orbit, Geostationary orbits, the Moon and Mars.