Millennium Space Systems and Sinclair Interplanetary announced today at the AIAA/USU SmallSat Conference held in Logan, UT, that Millennium is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer and distributor of Sinclair’s RW3-1.0 small satellite wheel.
This agreement caps a successful technology transfer program under which Millennium has produced a batch of six reaction wheels, and tested two units to full NASA qualification levels. The arrangement also provides small satellite developers an American supplier for Sinclair’s high quality, precision mechanism.
Millennium Space Systems, developer and operator of the National Reconnaissance Office’s Rapid Pathfinder satellite, is currently expanding the scope of its subsystem manufacturing. The Company sees vertical integration as a means of reducing cost, schedule, and risk for its own satellite programs, while also bringing highly competitive satellite components onto the open market.
“Millennium and Sinclair make excellent partners,” says Dr. Jeff Ward, Millennium’s Vice President of Product Development. ”We both demand the highest quality materials and workmanship, while still producing the affordable components necessary for today’s budget-constrained missions.”
“Millennium allows us to meet our customers’ demands for high-volume, U.S.-based manufacturing for the microsatellite wheel,” commented Doug Sinclair, owner and principal engineer of Toronto, Canada-based Sinclair Interplanetary. The two companies inked the agreement following a daylong manufacturing and qualification data review held at Millennium’s space manufacturing facility in Torrance, California. The review covered details of the technology transfer, supply chain logistics, and the qualification test results.
Millennium initially offers the product as Millennium RWA1000, with a set of four wheels priced at $240,000. A full flight ship set of four wheels is in stock and ready to deliver.
About Millennium Space Systems
Millennium Space Systems is a privately held, employee-owned company founded in 2001. The company provides alternative and relevant solutions to today’s aerospace challenges. Currently, the company designs flight systems and develops project solutions for the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and National Aeronautics & Space Administration. Millennium Space is based in Southern California, with Space Manufacturing facilities in Torrance, and Mission Operations Center in Manhattan Beach. For more information, visit www.millennium-space.com.
About Sinclair Interplanetary
Founded in 2001 by Doug Sinclair, Sinclair Interplanetary is a supplier of hardware, software, training and expertise to the spacecraft community. The primary focus is on low-cost, rapid-schedule programs to produce micro- or nano-satellites. For more information, visit www.sinclairinterplanetary.com .
