---
id: "entity-org-sinclair-interplanetary"
type: "entity"
entityType: "organization"
canonicalName: "Sinclair Interplanetary"
aliases: []
canonical_url: "Sinclair Interplanetary (now under Rocket Lab)"
source_timestamps: ["§ Fueling Growth"]
tags: ["acquisition", "satellite-components"]
related: ["concept-aerospace-vertical-integration", "entity-org-rocket-lab"]
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-119-rocket-lab-founder"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/the-founder-of-rocket-lab-on-competing-with-billionaires-to-lead-in-space"
sourceTitle: "The Founder of Rocket Lab on Competing with Billionaires to Lead in Space"
---
# Sinclair Interplanetary

Acquired by [[entity-org-rocket-lab|Rocket Lab]] in **2019** (enrichment: around 2020), Sinclair is described as the world's top producer of **star trackers** (optical sensors for orientation) and **reaction wheels** (inertia devices for repositioning). It was Rocket Lab's **first major acquisition** to vertically integrate satellite components — a cornerstone of [[concept-aerospace-vertical-integration]], later followed by SolAero and Mynaric.

**Canonical reference:** Sinclair Interplanetary site (now a Rocket Lab subpage).