Satellites and satellite stacks for launch

1 . A satellite stack comprising:

satellites arranged in a stack, wherein:

each satellite in the stack has a planar portion with an associated support structure and a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along an edge of the planar portion;

for each satellite, a height of the subsystems housing is greater than a combined height of the planar portion and the associated support structure;

each satellite is oriented at a nonzero rotational angle with respect to the satellite immediately beneath, such that no satellite has its subsystems housing positioned directly above the subsystems housing of the satellite immediately beneath; and

for at least one of the satellites, the height of the subsystems housing is a whole-number multiple of a combined height of the planar portion and the associated support structure of the satellite.

2 . The satellite stack of claim 1 , wherein, for at least one of the satellites, the subsystems housing extends along only one edge of the planar portion of the satellite.

3 . The satellite stack of claim 1 , wherein the whole-number multiple is four.

4 . The satellite stack of claim 1 , wherein the subsystems housing of each satellite is positioned directly above the subsystems housing of the satellite that is the whole-number multiple of satellites below that satellite in the stack.

5 . A satellite stack comprising:

satellites arranged in a stack, wherein:

each satellite in the stack has a planar portion with an associated support structure and a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along an edge of the planar portion;

for each satellite, a height of the subsystems housing is greater than a combined height of the planar portion and the associated support structure; and

each satellite is oriented at a nonzero rotational angle with respect to the satellite immediately beneath, such that no satellite has its subsystems housing positioned directly above the subsystems housing of the satellite immediately beneath;

the satellite stack further comprising a support base immediately beneath a bottommost satellite of the stack, wherein the support base includes a planar central portion and a plurality of peripheral portions arranged at edges of the central portion, and wherein each of the peripheral portions has a different height.

6 . The satellite stack of claim 5 , wherein the heights of the peripheral portions increase in a stepped manner by a same amount in a first direction around a perimeter of the central portion.

7 . The satellite stack of claim 5 , wherein the peripheral portions abut the subsystems housings of respective ones of the satellites in the stack.

8 . A satellite stack comprising:

satellites arranged in a stack, wherein:

each satellite in the stack has a planar portion with an associated support structure and a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along an edge of the planar portion;

for each satellite, a height of the subsystems housing is greater than a combined height of the planar portion and the associated support structure; and

each satellite is oriented at a 90° rotational angle with respect to the satellite immediately beneath, such that no satellite has its subsystems housing positioned directly above the subsystems housing of the satellite immediately beneath.

9 . The satellite stack of claim 8 , wherein, for at least one of the satellites, the subsystems housing extends along only one edge of the planar portion of the satellite.

10 . The satellite stack of claim 8 , further comprising a support base immediately beneath a bottommost satellite of the stack, wherein the support base includes a planar central portion and a plurality of peripheral portions arranged at edges of the central portion, and wherein each of the peripheral portions has a different height.

11 . The satellite stack of claim 10 , wherein the peripheral portions abut the subsystems housings of respective ones of the satellites in the stack.

12 . A satellite comprising:

a planar portion comprising a printed circuit board (PCB);

a support structure that increases flexural rigidity of the PCB, the support structure comprising rails extending along edges of the PCB; and

a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along only one edge of the PCB.

13 . The satellite of claim 12 , wherein the support structure further comprises rails extending across the PCB.

14 . The satellite of claim 12 , wherein the support structure further comprises columnar supports arranged about the PCB.

15 . The satellite of claim 14 , wherein the columnar supports are arranged in a grid pattern about the PCB.

16 . A satellite comprising:

a planar printed circuit board (PCB);

a support structure that increases flexural rigidity of the PCB, the support structure comprising rails extending across the PCB; and

a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along only one edge of the PCB.

17 . The satellite of claim 16 , wherein the support structure further comprises columnar supports arranged about the PCB.

18 . The satellite of claim 17 , wherein the columnar supports are arranged in a grid pattern about the PCB.

19 . A satellite comprising:

a planar printed circuit board (PCB);

a support structure that increases flexural rigidity of the PCB, the support structure comprising a foam grid along at least one surface of the PCB; and

a subsystems housing containing satellite subsystems extending along only one edge of the PCB.

20 . The satellite of claim 19 , wherein the support structure has intersecting strips forming a diagonal pattern of open spaces between the strips.