Satellites and subsystems > Attitude > Attitude actuators > Reaction wheels > 12.0 Nms - RW4 - Reaction Wheel
Key highlights
The Rocket Lab 12.0 Nms RWA - RW5 is a radiation-hardened reaction wheel designed for satellite applications. It has a momentum of +/-12 Nms and a torque of +/-0.2 Nm.
The RW4 requires a supply voltage between 24 V to 34 V. It has the capability to operate in temperatures between -20 to 60° C.
Key features
- Designed for long life and reliability
- Based on lessons learned from more than 250 wheels on-orbit heritage
- Constellation-class manufacturing capabilities for large-volume deliveries
- Standard and more radiation-hardened variants
- Modular assembly designed for volume manufacturing
- Low mass and volume envelope
- CAN-FD or full/half duplex RS-485
- Fully demisable
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Last updated: 2025-07-23
Technical specs
nominal momentum
± 12 N m s
torque
± 0.2 N m
data interface
Redundant RS-485
supply voltage
24 V to 34 V (nominal 28 V)
power (idle)
< 2.0 W
power (active)
<38W at 12Nms steady state
<170W during full acceleration
<100W regeneration during full deceleration
<170W during full acceleration
<100W regeneration during full deceleration
mass
≤5 kg
diameter
264 mm
height
70 mm
operating temperature
-20 to 60 C
storage temperature
-40 to 70 C
vibration (qual)
10 Grms
shock (qual)
100Hz – 39g
10kHz – 729g
1kHz – 729g
10kHz – 729g
1kHz – 729g
static imbalance
< 26.7 g mm
dynamic unbalance
< 800 g mm^2
radiation (TID)
60 krad
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