referring to the drawings , wherein in fig1 is illustrated a space shuttle orbiter 11 with its payload bay sides removed to reveal a payload pallet 13 holding a plurality of cylindrical containers 15 . upon each container is a probe or satellite 17 object that is to be ejected . the cylindrical containers 13 have therein the ejection apparatus of the present invention for ejecting the probe / satellite object into space as the orbiter circles the earth . fig2 shows in more detail the plurality of containers 15 with their probes / satellites objects 17 secured to a pallet surface 18 of the orbiter . fig3 partly in section illustrates the ejection apparatus 19 of the present invention that is within a container 15 . as shown , the ejection apparatus 19 includes a main pneumatic piston - cylinder 21 having a circular cradle 23 attached to the upper shaft 25 of the piston 27 to which the probe / satellite object 17 is secured by release mechanisms 29 , each consisting of a retractable pin and a locking lug as will be described below . the piston 27 is adapted to move upwardly very quickly in response to gas emitted in the cylinder 21 to accelerate the probe / satellite object 17 situated on the top of the cradle 23 . before the end of the stroke of the piston 27 , the upper release mechanism 29 releases , allowing the probe / satellite object 17 to be thrown out into space in the direction of the piston travel . a pneumatic operated pin component 30 is used to secure the piston - cylinder shaft 25 before gas is admitted into the cylinder 21 . as illustrated in fig3 and fig4 the circular cradle 23 which fits within the upper opening of the container 13 is adapted to rotate about a circular central hub 37 fastened to the upper or distal end of the piston shaft 25 . a circular bearing race 39 is used between the central hub 37 and surrounding 23 cradle . beneath the central hub 37 is a circular shallow container 41 fastened by bolts 42 to a flange 43 extending from the upper part of the housing for the pneumatic cylinder 21 . the bottom of the shallow container 41 has an opening through which the housing of the pneumatic cylinder 21 extends . the pneumatic operated pin component 30 is bolted to the bottom of the shallow container 41 and extends through the side thereof . as shown best in fig4 the circular central hub 37 has a bracket 45 bolted to its underside which has a vertical lug 46 extending downwardly . the gas operated pin component 30 has an elongated pin 31 extending through an opening 49 of the vertical lug 46 to prevent the hub 37 from moving upwardly . the gas operated pin component 30 has an internal piston 50 as shown by fig6 which when gas is emitted under pressure at a forward inlet 51 pushes the piston 50 rearwardly against a helical coil spring 53 and thereby retracts the pin 31 from the hub lug opening 49 ( fig4 ). the elongated pin 31 is fastened to the internal piston 50 and extends forwardly through a seal member 55 having an o - ring 56 . when the gas pressure is removed , the spring 53 will push the piston 50 forward with its pin 31 reentering the lub opening 49 ( fig4 ) if it is still in position . the piston 50 has a rearwardly extending shaft 57 , with an enlargement 59 that extends rearwardly of the housing 30 . a cam member 61 on the rear end of the piston shaft 59 activates an electrical follower switch 63 so as to provide a signal of its exact position for ground test purposes . the follower switch 63 is not intended for flight purposes . referring again to fig4 there is shown an upper pin component 29 fastened by bolts 28 to the underside of the cradle 23 and positioned generally within the upper space defined by the shallow container 41 secured to the cylinder housing 21 . the space probe / satellite object 17 has a bottom mounting plate 68 with three small openings 69 ( fig7 ) extending therethrough . one of the small openings 69 is shown in fig4 . across each opening 69 is a bracket 71 which is bolted to the bottom plate 68 . the bracket 71 has a downwardly extending vertical lug 72 having a circular opening 73 adjacent its end adapted to receive the elongated pin 75 from a pin component 29 . thus , it should be apparent that the upper pin components 29 fastened to the underside of the circular cradle 23 holds the probe / satellite object mounting plate 68 to the upper surface of the cradle 23 . as shown by the underside view of the cradle 23 in fig7 three pin components 29 , equally spaced , are utilized to removably connect with three corresponding lugs 72 of the probe / satellite object 17 . each lug 72 extending from the probe / satellite object 17 is the same as described above . each upper pin component 29 has a cooperating relationship with the vertical side wall 76 of the shallow container 41 which is explained best by referring both to fig4 and to fig5 . in fig5 the pin 75 of the component 29 is shown retracted from the probe / satellite mounting plate lug 72 shortly after the pneumatic cylinder shaft 25 has started the high velocity push that will enable the probe / satelite 17 to be thrown from the cradle 23 into space . this is accomplished by the action of the cradle 23 moving upwardly so that the rear end of the pin 75 which extends rearwardly from the component 29 , is free from the upwardly extending side 76 of the container 41 which retains it is position when nested as in fig4 but snaps rearwardly by the action of an internal coiled spring 78 shown in fig5 when it moves away from the vertical side 76 of the container 41 by upward movement of the main central shaft 25 . the pin 75 has an outer annular flange 79 acting within the component housing 29 against which the coil spring 79 pushes using the forward part of the internal housing 29 to force the pin 75 to retract when the rear end of the pin 75 becomes clear of the barrier side wall 76 of the shallow container 41 . while three automatically retractable components 29 have been shown , it is readily apparent that the number used may depend on the forces encountered . as illustrated in fig3 the cradle 23 has a circular annular gear track 81 member fastened to its underside adjacent its circular rim edge . the cyclindrical container 15 supports a motor 82 therein which has a pinion gear member 83 on its outer shaft which meshes with the internal gear surface of the track member 81 . the motor 82 when switched on will cause the cradle 23 to rotate or spin about the central hub 37 so to enable the probe / satellite object 17 to be ejected while spinning . the upper automatic retracting pins 29 when in a nested condition will have the rear end of their pins rubbing against the barrier surface of the vertical side wall 76 of the shallow container 41 when the cradle rotates 23 . this does not interfere with retracting pin &# 39 ; s operation and when the cradle 23 is lifted causing the retracting pin component 29 to be clear of the vertical side wall 76 it quickly snaps rearwardly freeing the lug 76 of the bottom plate 68 of the probe / satellite object 17 . the upper surface of the circular cradle 23 extends slightly above the central hub 37 so that when the cradle 23 is rotated the bottom plate 68 of the probe / satellite object 17 will not rub against the upper surface of the central hub 37 . safety devices not shown may be incorporated into the apparatus described . for example , crushable aluminum honeycomb structure could be placed in the upper portion of the pneumatic cylinder 21 to slow the velocity of the piston 27 near the end of its stroke . also , a spring - loaded solenoid actuated anti - rotation pin could be used to engage the cradle 23 to prevent its rotation . fig3 illustrates the compressed gas container 91 and lines 93 , 94 for operating the main pneumatic piston - cylinder 21 as well as the fluid operated retractable pin component 30 . as shown the gas , nitrogen for example , is stored under pressure in a supply bottle 91 supported within the container 75 , and has a main inlet line 93 , 94 leading therefrom to the bottom inlet of the main pneumatic cylinder 21 and the forward entry 51 of the fluid operated retractable pin component 30 . the inlet line 91 to main inlet lines 93 , 94 has a suitable electrical activated valve 96 to emit the gas on signal from the crew members . depressurization capability is provided by a pyro - actuated vent 97 for abort conditions and an automatic vent after ejection . a return vent line 98 from the upper portion of the main cylinder 21 is provided to release the buildup of a residual gas within the pneumatic cylinder 21 when the piston 27 is forced upwardly by entry of high pressure gas from the supply bottle 91 . the lower supply line 94 to the pneumatic cylinder 21 is longer and of a larger diameter than the upper supply line 93 to the fluid operated retraction pin 30 . this enables the gas when released by the valve 96 to reach the fluid retractable pin component 30 before or simultaneously with the gas reaching the main cylinder 21 . thus , the timing of the gas activation of each component helps ensure that the pin holding the center hub 37 is pulled back to release the center hub 37 before the gas starts pushing the pneumatic piston 27 upwardly . the ejection device is operated when the space shuttle orbiter 11 is at a desired space location for the launch of the probe / satellite object 17 . the crew members then activate a signal device ( not shown ), if the probe / satellite object 17 is to be spin stabilized , starting the motor 82 causing the cradle 23 supporting the probe / satellite object 17 to rotate about the central hub 37 at a desired speed . when the desired rotation speed is reached , the crew members will give the electrical signal to the gas valve 96 causing the release of high pressure gas into the main supply lines 93 , 94 . the gas upon reaching the retractable pneumatic pin component 30 causes that pneumatic component 30 to retract its pin 31 from the lug 46 attached to the center hub 37 . the high pressure gas also activates the main piston 27 causing it to push upwardly within the cylinder 21 the shaft 25 . when the piston shaft 25 carries the center hub 37 and surrounding cradle 23 upwardly sufficiently for the automatic retraction pin components 29 to clear the barrier side of the shallow container 41 the retraction pin 75 snaps backwardly from the bottom plate lugs 73 freeing the probe / satellite object 17 from the cradle 23 . the entire probe / satellite object 17 and cradle assembly 23 continues to accelerate until the end of the pneumatic piston stroke at which time the probe / satellite object 17 continues to move outwardly so as to be thrown into space . it is readily apparent that modifications could be made to the ejection apparatus described without departing from the scope of the claim .