A satellite dispenser and method of using same are disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate a payload; and a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity and configured to be extended further into the interior cavity by actuation of a manual interface external to the interior cavity.

The present invention relates to a release system (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), that includes a segmented structural element (10) comprising: a first segment (10a) designed to be coupled to a first structure, a second segment (10b) designed to be coupled to a second structure, and a solder joint (11) joining respective ends of said first (10a) and second (10b) segments, thus holding down the first and second structures with respect to one another; wherein said solder joint (11) is electromagnetically heatable and includes a solder alloy having a predefined melting temperature. The release system (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) is characterized by further including magnetic field generating means (13, PW1, PW2, PW3, PW4, PW5) configured to, upon reception of a release command, generate a time-varying magnetic field through the solder joint (11) such that to cause heating thereof up to the predefined melting temperature of the solder alloy, thereby causing melting of said solder alloy; whereby separation of the first (10a) and second (10b) segments is caused, thus enabling release of the first and second structures from one another.

A method and device enable the linear separation of two elements attached to each other through two connecting plates of the first element and the second element respectively. An arrangement connecting and separating the two connecting plates are mixed and comprise a layer. The connecting arrangement comprises soldering, glue, or resin, whereas the separating arrangement comprises thermite. These elements can also be layered rather than mixed. An electrical triggering of this assembly causes its quick and local warming-up and thus enables both of these elements to be separated.

One aspect of the present invention involves a hold-down and release mechanism (HDRM) that includes a hold-then-release mechanism configured to hold an element until the hold-then-release mechanism is commanded to release the element; and an integral sensor configured to sense an amount of a parameter of interest associated with the HDRM and to communicate the sensed amount of the parameter of interest to a receiving device. The parameter of interest comprises one of tensile preload, temperature, vibration, shock, and time from application of an HDRM firing current to HDRM release of the element.

Disclosed is a device for controlled separation of a first so-called stationary part and a second so-called mobile part, the stationary part having a stationary connecting surface opposite a mobile connecting surface of the mobile part, the stationary part having a different thermal expansion coefficient from that of the mobile part, the separation device including: at least one connecting agent arranged in a layer between the stationary connecting surface and the mobile connecting surface, at least one device for heating at least one of the stationary part and the mobile part, and at least one system for controlling the heating device.

The present technology is directed to thrusting rails for launch vehicles, and associated systems and methods. Certain embodiments of the thrusting rails can include a first rail housing portion having a cavity and a second rail housing portion having a projection positioned at least partially within the cavity. The rails can include a bellows positioned within the cavity and an elongated tube positioned within the bellows. The elongated tube can include a vent opening in a lateral wall of the elongated tube. A shield can be positioned between the vent opening at the bellows and a sleeve can be positioned within the elongated tube. The sleeve can be constructed from a fibrous material and positioned to retain an ordnance within the elongated tube.

A method and device enable the linear separation of two elements attached to each other, through two respective connecting surfaces of these two elements. A connecting layer is placed between both connecting parts. Thermite is used to melt this connecting layer. The thermite can be placed on the other side of the first connecting part towards the first element, a heat protecting plate completing this assembly. The thermite can also be placed in grooves provided on the connecting surface of the second connecting plate to be directly in contact with the connecting layer.

The invention relates to a method and a device allowing the separation of two stages of an aeronautical vehicle, without affecting the structure of the two stages. The device consists mainly of a connecting ring (13) secured to the two stages of the aeronautical vehicle and comprising a cutting ring (20) on the inner surface (13A) thereof, which contains a mixture of thermite and an intermetallic composition. The triggering of the latter allows the heating and melting of part of the ring (13), which separates into two parts. The invention can be applied to an aeronautical launcher.

One aspect of the present invention involves a hold-down and release mechanism (HDRM) that includes a hold-then-release mechanism configured to hold an element until the hold-then-release mechanism is commanded to release the element; and an integral sensor configured to sense an amount of a parameter of interest associated with the HDRM and to communicate the sensed amount of the parameter of interest to a receiving device. The parameter of interest comprises one of tensile preload, temperature, vibration, shock, and time from application of an HDRM firing current to HDRM release of the element.

Disclosed is a space vehicle, such as a satellite, the vehicle including: at least one equipment-carrying module for carrying equipment of the vehicle; at least three posts extending at least partially in the same longitudinal direction and on the periphery of the equipment-carrying module, each post being provided with at least one releasable locking device; and a reinforcing structure which rigidly connects each post transversely to at least two other posts.