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I think based on the discussion here it's unclear what the reaction wheels are for. I also think it's clear that they're very proud of making one. They themselves might not know what it's for.

They will never breach Mach 1. They will never achieve a vacuum thin enough to do so, they will never achieve a rotational velocity fast enough to do so, thus they will never have to address the creation of a shockwave in their chamber, which is good, because it would be dramatic.