In another step toward its goal of becoming a one-stop shop for its aerospace clients, Rocket Lab USA Inc. is expanding its Space Systems business with a new production facility to make critical satellite components.
The 5,000-square-foot factory at Rocket Lab’s production complex in Auckland, New Zealand, will be able to supply up to 2,000 reaction wheels per year. Reaction wheels provide attitude control and stability for spacecraft without the need for thrusters.
The newly public Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) said it has signed deals to provide reaction wheels to “a number of undisclosed satellite constellations.”
The new production line will largely run itself with metal machining optimized to operate without an attendant, and automated production tools and environmental testing stations.
Some 16 jobs are expected to be added to support the new facility and Rocket Lab’s growing Space Systems business by the end of the year.
The move follows Rocket Lab’s acquisition of Sinclair Interplanetary last year. The Toronto-based manufacturer provides satellite hardware such as reaction wheels and star trackers. Rocket Lab now has such components in more than 200 satellites, including in BlackSky and Kepler Communications constellations.
“With the rise in constellations, the demand for high-quality components and spacecraft produced at scale continues to grow, and we’re addressing the bottleneck head on,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck in a statement.
A Rocket Lab spokesperson said the company is also expanding its teams and facilities at its headquarters in Long Beach as well as Toronto to support the Space Systems business. The company’s manufacturing footprint totals 380,000 square feet.
Rocket Lab’s diversified offerings include the Photon spacecraft, a satellite platform designed and built in-house that enables small satellite customers to focus on delivering their services from orbit (and making money) rather than building their own satellite hardware. NASA has tapped Rocket Lab’s Photon for missions to both the moon and Mars.
