A yo-yo de-spin mechanism consists of two lengths of cable with weights on the ends. The cables are wrapped around the rocket in the manner of a double yo-yo. When the weights are released, the rocket’s spin flings them away from the spin axis. It transfers enough angular momentum to the weights to reduce the spacecraft’s spin. Subsequently, the weights are often released.
Many amateur rockets are spin-stabilized because they usually do not possess thrust vectoring or other active attitude control
References
- Yo-yo de-spin – Wikipedia
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