Space systems firm Rocket Lab has acquired satellite hardware manufacturer Sinclair Interplanetary.

The US firm and its New Zealand subsidiary is the maker of the Electron launch vehicle and Photon line of primarily Low Earth Orbit satellites, which the acquisition of Sinclair’s capabilities will significantly bolster.

The move appears to be a major plank in Rocket Lab’s strategy to provide end-to-end launch and small satellite services, according to Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO.

“When we talk to small satellite operators across the board their challenges are clear: They need to get on orbit faster; they need proven and reliable hardware; and they need the ability to focus on their core business, rather than spending years tied up in hardware development,” he said.

“Rocket Lab and Sinclair Interplanetary are uniquely suited to solve these challenges and make space easy for our customers.”

Sinclair Interplanetary was founded in 2001, and has focused on developing hardware for rapid-schedule small satellite programs, having equipped missions for the world’s smallest space telescope BRITE, and The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2, the first satellite in Earth orbit to be propelled solely by sunlight.

The firm will continue to be led by founder Doug Sinclair and will maintain its manufacturing facilities in Toronto, Canada, and its services will remain available to other satellite companies, according to material released by Rocket Lab.

“At Sinclair Interplanetary we’ve had the privilege of serving the small satellite community for almost 20 years across diverse and innovative missions,” said Doug Sinclair.

“We’re excited to build on our strong heritage by combining the capabilities of Rocket Lab and Sinclair Interplanetary to scale manufacturing, make our hardware available to more customers globally, and be able to supply larger constellations than ever before.”

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