They can't; neither can fighters. But if the ship that launched them survives the battle, it automatically recovers them when you leave the Tactical screen. (It was a pleasant surprise the first time I saw it happen; I expected the sats to be left deployed in the sector.)
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Cap'n Q
"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it is a good morning," he said. "Which I doubt," said he.
I actually meant the bother of unloading them in combat, then reloading them after.
I didn't realise they were automatically collected again.
Now, if you could just get the ships carrying them to stay put...
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The Unofficial Space Empires 4 Mod Utility V2.26
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Download as a .ZIP -(HERE)-