Dispensing hinge assembly

A method for deploying a payload into space, the method comprising:

• rotating a first hinge-half with respect to a second hinge-half about a binge line that joins the first hinge-half with the second hinge-half, rotating the first hinge-half including rotating a first bracket attached to the payload and rotating a rotatable arm locked to the first bracket, wherein a payload base is attached to the second hinge-half;
• stopping rotation of the rotatable arm at a target angle between the payload and the payload base, including stopping rotation of the rotatable arm at a hinge stop of the second hinge-half;
• and
• releasing the first bracket from the rotatable arm due to momentum of the payload thereby deploying the payload into space at the target angle.

A spacecraft dispensing system comprising:

• a hinge pin;
• a first hinge-half having a first bracket configured to attach to a spacecraft, the first hinge-half further having a rotatable arm rotatably coupled to the hinge pin, the first bracket and the rotatable arm together having one or more interlocks configured to lock the first bracket to the rotatable arm;
• a spring coupled to the rotatable arm and configured to apply a force to rotate the rotatable arm around the hinge pin;
• and
• a second hinge-half configured to attach to a spacecraft launcher, the second hinge-half having a second bracket coupled to the hinge pin, the second hinge-half having a hinge stop configured to stop rotation of the rotatable arm at a target degrees of rotation of the rotatable arm, the first bracket configured to release from the rotatable arm due to momentum of the spacecraft when the rotatable arm stops rotating at the target degrees of rotation to thereby deploy the spacecraft into space.