OVERVIEW
Reaction Wheel Assemblies control the satellite attitude by providing reaction torques along the three main axes, while Momentum Wheel assemblies provide passive stabilization along the two axes perpendicular to the spin axis and active pointing about the spin axis. Each Reaction Wheel includes a precision balanced flywheel driven by an ironless armature brushless DC motor, housed in a hermetically sealed aluminum case with inert gas and an electronics module for operation and satellite interface. The product is based on technological assets of magnetic design and material engineering developed for gyros, accelerometers, synchros and resolvers, electrical motors and magnetotorquers.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Excellent effectiveness of the wide performance envelope with respect to the utilization of power, mass and volume resources.
- High reliability and long life
- Large span of available products and high adaptation flexibility for specific mission requirements
- Space proven in the frame of OFEQ and OPTSAT programs
Values & Benefits
Reaction Wheel Assemblies are used as actuators to control the satellite attitude by providing reaction torques along the three main axes.
Momentum Wheel assemblies are used for passive stabilization purpose along the two axes perpendicular to the spin axis and for active pointing about the spin axis by providing reaction torques.
The Reaction Wheel consists of a precision balanced flywheel suspended on a ball bearing and driven by an ironless armature brushless DC motor.
A hermetically sealed aluminum case filled with an inert gas at low pressure contains the mechanical assembly and the electronics module necessary for operating the Wheel and interfacing with the satellite.
