PHOTO COURTESY HONEYWELL AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES
Honeywell has expanded its small satellite product portfolio by launching its second-generation Honeywell Commercial (HC) Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA). The second-generation HC-RWA supports spacecraft from 150kg to 700kg.
Reaction wheels are crucial satellite components enabling precision control of satellite orientation, or attitude, while they are in orbit without requiring thrusters or other external torque. The use of RWAs significantly reduces required fuel, which is especially critical for large constellations of small satellites. They can also enable satellite stabilization for remote sensing technology applications, such as Earth observation (EO) satellites, or optical communications that could not perform to the highest standards without the steady operation of RWAs.
“By leveraging the proven technology of our 2,500 small satellite Reaction Wheel Assemblies currently in flight, we are rapidly expanding our low-earth-orbit satellite offering, where cost and speed are key yet operators cannot compromise on performance,” said Lisa Napolitano, vice president and general manager of space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Our next-generation Honeywell Commercial RWA is significantly less expensive – as little as 25 to 50 percent of the cost of existing technologies – and can be delivered faster than its predecessor. It provides satellite manufacturers with a modern digital design geared toward high-volume production of high-performance products.”
Honeywell has built RWAs for satellites for over 60 years, with more than 100 million flight hours to date. The ITAR-free HC-RWA enables precision performance supported by advanced drive technology in a small and economical package, manufactured at several global locations.