Payload adapter ring
A lightweight spacecraft dispenser, which consists of a material made from composite materials, and of a ring structure with several payload ports. The ring structure has a surface that extends between opposite ends of the ring structure and that is at least partially spherical. The surface can be completely spherical or partially spherical between the opposite ends.
1. A lightweight spacecraft dispenser consisting of:
a material made from composite materials; and
a ring structure including a plurality of payload ports and a surface that extends between opposite ends of the ring structure and that is at least partially spherical.
2. The lightweight spacecraft dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the ring structure is an integral composite material structure.
3. The lightweight spacecraft dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the ring structure includes an adapter on an end of the ring structure.