Satellites having autonomously deployable solar arrays

A method of autonomously deploying a solar array of a satellite, the method comprising:

• determining, via a sensor, that the satellite has exited a launch vehicle;
• upon determining that the satellite has exited the launch vehicle, releasing magnets or locks of an array based on a release sequence to autonomously deploy the solar array;
• and
• adapting, via instructions executed by a processor, the release sequence of the magnets or locks of the array during execution of the release sequence, wherein the adapting of the release sequence includes changing an order in which the magnets or the locks of the array are released based on a degree to which the solar array is unfolded.

A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor of a satellite to at least:

• determine that the satellite has exited a launch vehicle based on sensor data;
• upon determination that the satellite has exited the launch vehicle, cause release of magnets or locks of an array based on a release sequence;
• and
• adapt the release sequence of the magnets or the locks of the array during execution of the release sequence to autonomously deploy a solar array of the satellite, wherein the release sequence is adapted by changing an order in which the magnets or the locks of the array are released based on a degree to which the solar array is unfolded.

A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor of a satellite to at least:

• determine that the satellite has exited a launch vehicle based on sensor data;
• upon determination that the satellite has exited the launch vehicle, cause utilization of squibs, magnets or locks of an array based on a sequence;
• cause an adjustment of an orientation of the satellite to an orientation in which momentum accumulation is reduced;
• and
• adapt the sequence of the squibs, the magnets or the locks of the array during execution thereof to autonomously deploy a solar array of the satellite, wherein the sequence is adapted by changing an order in which the squibs, the magnets or the locks of the array are utilized based on a degree to which the solar array is unfolded.