Apparatus with axis-parallel tension cables for ejecting a spin-stabilized body from a spacecraft

A spacecraft system comprising a spacecraft having an ejection bay, a flying body that is received in said ejection bay and that is to be ejected in a spin-stabilized manner out of said ejection bay, and an ejection apparatus that is arranged in said ejection bay and that is adapted to eject said flying body with a translation motion and a rotation motion out of said ejection bay, wherein said ejection apparatus comprises:

• a first ring element 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 said flying body, which is received in and extends through said open inner diameter;
• a second ring element;
• a cable winding device arranged on said second ring element;
• 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 said cable winding device arranged on said second ring element;
• a plurality of holding elements mounted on said first ring element and releasably holding said flying body;
• and
• a plurality of guide elements mounted on said first ring element and positioning and guiding said flying body within said open inner diameter of said first ring element;
• wherein said tension cables extend parallel to each other and parallel to a central axis of said ring elements between said first and second ring elements;
• and
• wherein said cable winding device comprises a rotatable body that is rotatable about a winding rotation axis that coincides with a central axis of said ring elements and of said flying body, and catch elements that are connected to and rotatable with said rotatable body about said winding rotation axis and that are releasably engaged with receivers of said flying body.