SMALLSAT PAYLOAD CONFIGURATION

Techniques for deploying a plurality of smallsats (110) from a common launch vehicle are disclosed where a structural arrangement provides a load path between an upper stage of the launch and the plurality of spacecraft (110). Each spacecraft (110) is mechanically coupled with the launch vehicle upper stage only by the structural arrangement. The structural arrangement includes at least one trunk member (124) that is approximately aligned with the longitudinal axis of the launch vehicle upper stage, a plurality of branch members (126), each branch member being attached to the trunk member and having at least a first end portion that is substantially outboard from the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of mechanical linkages (130), each linkage (130) coupled at a first end with a first respective spacecraft (110) and coupled at a second end with one of the plurality of branch members (126), the trunk member (124) or a second respective spacecraft (110).