Ruggedized reaction wheel apparatus for use on kinetically launched satellites

A reaction wheel assembly apparatus comprising:

• a wheel housing mounted, by one or more sprung hinges, to a body of a satellite;
• a wheel configured to rotate within the wheel housing by way of connection through a shaft and at least one bearing;
• one or more release devices attached to the wheel housing, the one or more release devices configured to:
• secure the wheel housing along the body of the satellite during a kinetic launch of the satellite;
• and
• release the wheel housing to allow the wheel housing to rotate about the one or more sprung hinges by a predetermined angle to a stop position after the kinetic launch of the satellite;
• and
• one or more support blocks attached to the body of the satellite, the one or more support blocks configured to support the wheel when the wheel housing is secured along the body of the satellite by the one or more release devices.

A reaction wheel assembly apparatus comprising:

• a wheel housing mounted to a body of a satellite;
• a wheel configured to rotate within the wheel housing by way of connection through a shaft and at least one bearing;
• one or more release devices attached to the wheel housing, the one or more release devices configured to:
• secure the wheel housing along the body of the satellite during a kinetic launch of the satellite;
• and
• release the wheel housing to allow the wheel housing to rotate by a predetermined angle to a stop position after the kinetic launch of the satellite;
• and
• one or more support blocks attached to the body of the satellite, the one or more support blocks configured to support the wheel when the wheel housing is secured along the body of the satellite by the one or more release devices.