Patent ID: 8888050
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
1. A system adapted to interface an expendable, unmanned, orbital launch vehicle to a first plurality of secondary payloads, for enabling flexible configuration of secondary payloads, comprising: a single interface, consistent for a second plurality of missions, adapted for coupling to the launch vehicle interface for coupling with the launch vehicle to receive power, multiplex command and data communication, and receive a single deployment trigger signal from the launch vehicle, the system adapted for coupling to the first plurality of secondary payloads; for each of the plurality of secondary payloads: a deployment switching module, electrically coupled with the launch vehicle interface to receive the single deployment signal, configured to provide the secondary payload-specific deployment signals to deploy the plurality of secondary payloads in a predefined deployment sequence in response to the single deployment signal; wherein the single consistent launch vehicle interface is invariant irrespective of the number of secondary payloads; and wherein the deployment switching module automatically provides a predetermined sequence of payload-specific deployment signals upon receiving the deployment trigger signal.