Patent ID: 7445183

Claim:
An apparatus for ejecting a spin-stabilized flying body from a spacecraft, said apparatus comprising: a first ring element to be secured to the spacecraft, wherein said first ring element has an open inner diameter corresponding to or larger than an outer diameter of a portion of the flying body to allow the portion to be inserted through said open inner diameter of said first ring element; a second ring element; a cable winding device that is arranged on said second ring element and that is releasably engageable with the flying body; a plurality of tension cables extending between and interconnecting said first and second ring elements, wherein each respective one of said tension cables has a respective first cable end thereof connected to said first ring element and a respective second cable end thereof connected to and selectively wound-up on said cable winding device arranged on said second ring element; a plurality of holding elements mounted on said first ring element and adapted to selectively hold the flying body; and a plurality of guide elements mounted on said first ring element and adapted to position and guide the flying body within said open inner diameter of said first ring element.