Technology is disclosed herein for a spacecraft launch restraint and dispensing structure. The dispensing structure has a number of trusses and a central structure. When the trusses are in a support position, each spacecraft may be supported at one point by the central structure and at two points by one or more of the trusses. Therefore, each spacecraft may be supported at three points, thereby providing a stable support for each spacecraft. The spacecrafts do not touch each other and do not bear the weight of other spacecrafts. In a deployment position, the trusses extend away from the satellites and do not support the satellites; however, the satellites initially remain connected to the central structure. In the deployment position, the trusses are out of an ejection path such that the satellites can be ejected in a desired sequence from the central structure.

Technology is disclosed for a spacecraft launch restraint and dispensing structure. Stacks of spacecrafts may be arranged around a central post. The dispensing structure has primary tie-down mechanisms that axially clamp the stacks of spacecrafts when in a stowed position. Each primary tie-down mechanism may have a rod located between two adjacent stacks, such that the rod tensions two stacks. In a deployment position, the primary tie-down rods extend away from the stack such that an ejection path is cleared. The dispensing structure also includes secondary tie-down mechanisms that radially connect the spacecrafts to the central post. After the primary tie-down rods are moved to the deployment position, the secondary tie-down mechanisms still hold the spacecrafts. The spacecrafts may be deployed by issuing control signals to the secondary tie-down mechanisms when the primary tie-down rods are in the deployment position.

The invention relates to a separation device for a spacecraft or launcher. The separation device includes an inner housing divided into at least two portions locked to each other by a locking device in a locking position. The locking device is arranged to move between a locking position and a releasing position. The separation device includes an initiator including means for providing high pressure fluid to an expansion chamber when the separation device is switched from a locked state to a released state. The high pressure fluid in an expansion chamber moves the locking device from the locking position to the releasing position when the separation device is switched from the locked state to the released state. The separation device includes a dampening arrangement arranged to attenuate a peak load when the separation device is switched from the locked state to the released state.

Artificial satellite “Card-Sat” comprising a frame (1), an upper cover (2) and a lower cover (3), both covers (2, 3) being fixed to the frame (1), the frame (1), the upper cover (2) and the lower cover (3) defining a substantially paralelepipedic chamber (5), the satellite further comprising solar cells (6) fixed to the outer surface, in respect to the chamber (5), of the upper cover (2) and of the lower cover (3), and an avionics system (7), integrated on the inner surface, in respect to the chamber (5), of at least one of the upper cover (2) or the lower cover (3).

An assembly includes at least one first collection of a plurality of spacecraft intended to be fastened to a launcher during a launch phase, wherein the spacecraft are arranged about a central axis (Z) in a given transverse plane perpendicular to the central axis, the spacecraft having edges along a longitudinal axis and being moreover arranged in such a way that a spacecraft is linked to a neighboring spacecraft of the collection by one edge by means of at least one fastener (B) positioned on the edge, so as to mechanically hold the spacecraft to one another, and a satellites-launcher adaptor to which the spacecraft are fastened in a transverse plane.

A satellite is provided, configured for stacking with another similarly designed satellite and to facilitate separation thereof. The satellite comprises a housing for carrying functional components, having a plurality of pairing arrangements and a separation arrangement. Each of the pairing arrangements comprises a post extending perpendicularly to a horizontal plane of the housing, and first and second guide members. First guide members of the satellite are configured to couple with second guide members of the other satellite when stacked therewith. The separation arrangement comprises a thrust element configured to impart an ejection force to facilitate the separation, and a release assembly configured to selectively facilitate allowing the ejection force to propel one of the satellites, thereby initiating the separation. The first guide member of the satellite cooperates with the second guide member of the other satellite to deflect it from the horizontal plane during separation.

A selectively releasable separation nut for securing a payload and/or deployable equipment (hereafter “second body”) to a rocket, missile, or aircraft or spacecraft (hereafter “first body”) by way of a preloaded bolt, or other fastener, and releasing them on command. The separation nut may have magnetic eddy current damping components that dissipate as heat the strain energy stored in the separation nut, the bolt, and surrounding first body and second body structures during the bolt preload release. Energy not dissipated as heat during preload release may be stored as kinetic energy and dissipated as heat after the bolt mechanical release. The bolt acceleration and velocity are controlled throughout the release cycle. The bolt kinetic energy post release is less than 0.01% of the stored strain energy pre-release. Shock, impulse, and momentum transfer to the released second body are near zero.

A payload-bus kinematic interface system includes one or more kinematic devices. Each kinematic device includes a first contacting surface and a second contacting surface. The first contacting surface kinematically interfaces with the second contacting surface, passing loads or forces to the second contacting surface.

The present disclosure concerns a device for deploying a nanosatellite including a main structure mounted on a launching vehicle, a support frame carrying the nanosatellite, and a locking/unlocking structure. The locking/unlocking structure includes a first clamping element complementary to a second clamping element of the support frame, and an elastically deformable actuating element to allow, in a locking position, constrain the first clamping element to the second clamping element to retain the support frame to the main structure, and in an unlocking position, release the first clamping element from the second clamping element to release the support frame from the main structure causing it to be ejected.

A release system for the release of satellites from a launch vehicle is provided that includes: (i) a torsion bar, having a first end which is fixed by means of support means to a launch vehicle and is locked in rotation around a longitudinal axis of the torsion bar, and a second end which is connected by means of hinge means to the launch vehicle and is free to rotate around the longitudinal axis; (ii) at least one launch arm extending perpendicularly from the torsion bar and comprising (a) a torsion lever having a first end which is fixed to the torsion bar in an integral manner, and (b) a guide having a first end connected to a second end of the torsion lever, and a second free end; (iii) at least one slider which is fixed in an integral manner to a satellite to be launched and arranged to engage the guide in a sliding manner; and (iv) and a limit stop element designed to act upon the torsion lever to stop the rotation of the launch arm around the longitudinal axis.