DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING AND EJECTING SMALL SPACE PAYLOADS

摘要

The invention relates to a device (1) for transporting and ejecting small space payloads, in particular picosatellites, including: a tubular body (2) provided with a means (3) for attachment onto a launch vehicle, said body (2) comprising at least two longitudinal guide rails (17, 18) which can receive a satellite (9) fixedly arranged inside said body (2) in a storage position during transport and which can be moved along said guide rails (17, 18) towards a front end (15) of said body (2) during ejection; an ejection mechanism (12) comprising a means for translatably moving a satellite (9) in a longitudinal fashion; a drive means (14) connected to said movement means and suitable for engaging with a satellite (9); and a means (13) for controlling the ejection mechanism (12). According to the invention, said movement means includes a transport device (10) comprising at least one cable (19, 20) extending in a closed loop inside the body (2), said closed loop passing around said guide rails (17, 18) and comprising passage areas extending in parallel on either side of the guide rails (17,18) so that when said cable (19, 20) is moved by said control unit (13), said drive means can move a satellite (9) on said rails towards the front end (15) of said body (2).