Inflation and Performance of Three Parachute Configurations from Supersonic Flight Tests in a Low-density Environment

Download or read book Inflation and Performance of Three Parachute Configurations from Supersonic Flight Tests in a Low-density Environment written by Charles H. Whitlock and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ten flight tests of modified-ringsail, disk-gap-band, and cross parachute configurations with deployment at Mach numbers and dynamic pressures corresponding to conditions expected during entry into a Martian atmosphere have been completed. Comparison of flight results indicates that theoretical snatch force values were never exceeded when the deployment techniques of these tests were used. Opening loads showed no definite trend with Mach number. Values for filling times compared favorably with generally accepted empirical curves based on 15-percent geometric porosity. Canopy stability was good when Mach numbers were below 1.4 for the modified-ringsail and disk-gap-band configurations.