Planet Labs, Inc.

Planet Labs Pbc

Kevin Meissner

Kelly Hering

Bayard Gardineer

Narinder Kumar

Benjamin Howard

Jedd Perry

Ben Howard

Buddy Gardineer

In one embodiment, an apparatus is attached to a feature to be deployed on a satellite. The apparatus includes a first material having an impedance, a second material coupled to the first material configured to provide a current or voltage to the first material causing the first material to generate heat based on the impedance after a launch process of a launch vehicle carrying the satellite has completed, and a third material configured to change state at a transition temperature. A release mechanism is coupled to the third material and holds the feature in an undeployed position on the satellite. The heat generated by the second material causes the third material to change state when the transition temperature range is reached and the release mechanism is released from the third material when the third material is in the second state to deploy the feature.

Restraint system for deployment of a feature on a satellite

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Kevin Meissner