WHY USE SPINNAKER?

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  Passive Deorbit

  Once deployed, Spinnaker dragsails passively accelerate deorbit without active control. Each unit has a power source and adjustable timer, enabling autonomous deployment at end-of-mission or by ground command.

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  FCC Licensing

  The Communications Act requires a license for any commercial communications transmitted via satellite to, from and within the United States. All satellites must deorbit within 5 years after end-of-mission to qualify for this license.

  Streamlined FCC Licensing

  Satellites weighing 180 kg or less that deorbit within 6 years from launch can qualify for streamlined FCC licensing, saving over $400K in application fees and offering a shorter review timeline.

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  Targeted Re-Entry

  Uncertainty in reentry timing spans multiple orbits, making satellite burnup unpredictable across regions. Deploying a dragsail during deorbit can initiate atmospheric entry and narrow the entry corridor. At low altitudes, the increased drag from the deployed sail induces reentry within a fraction of an orbit.