The Apollo Parachute Landing System
The Apollo Parachute Landing System
The Apollo Parachute Landing System
T P - 131
T H E A P O L L O P A R A C H U T E LANDING S Y S T E M
T. W. Knacke
Northrop Ventura
P a p e r P r e s e n t e d at the
AIAA SECOND AERODYNAMIC
D E C E L E R A T O R SYSTEMS CONFERENCE
El Centro, California
September 1968
T h i s P a p e r s u m m a r i z e s the w o r k of a d e d i c a t e d g r o u p of
p e r s o n n e l f r o m NASA M S C , N o r t h A m e r i c a n R o c k w e l l
and N o r t h r o p V e n t u r a .
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m
A HALL LIBRARY
e Engineering Technology
LINDA H A L L L I B R A R Y
INTRODUCTION
m o s t a d v a n c e d , m o s t t h o r o u g h l y e n g i n e e r e d and m o s t t h o r o u g h l y tested
p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m in e x i s t e n c e . It s t a b i l i z e s and d e c e l e r a t e s the A p o l l o
c o m m a n d m o d u l e a f t e r the m i s s i o n is c o m p l e t e d to a d e s c e n t v e l o c i t y
m i s s i o n a b o r t c a s e s p r i o r to obtaining o r b i t . The A p o l l o p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m
of p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t . H o w e v e r , the unique s y s t e m s e n g i n e e r i n g
c r e w f r o m p r e - l i f t - o f f to c o m p l e t e d m i s s i o n s .
single c o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e should c a u s e l o s s of c r e w o r m i s s i o n f a i l u r e .
T h i s s o m e w h a t a r b i t r a r y a p p r o a c h w a s r e p l a c e d , as the d e v e l o p m e n t of
l a n d i n g s a r e s h o w n in F i g u r e 1 and i n c l u d e the A p o l l o C o m m a n d M o d u l e
a r o u n d the L E M a d a p t e r d o c k i n g tunnel.
F i g u r e 1. The A p o l l o S p a c e c r a f t
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The s u b s e q u e n t p a r a g r a p h s of this r e p o r t d i s c u s s r e c o v e r y m o d e s ,
the a p p r o a c h to s y s t e m s r e l i a b i l i t y , d e s i g n c r i t e r i a s b a s e d on f a i l u r e
p a r a l l e l r e d u n d a n c y of v i t a l c o m p o n e n t s , and o t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g d e s i g n
details.
RECOVERY CONCEPT
the l a u n c h e s c a p e system.
t h r e e a x i s s p a c e c r a f t m o t i o n s at p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t and p o s e s stringent
p r e s s u r e s and p a r a c h u t e l o a d s .
T h e s e l e c t e d e m e r g e n c y e s c a p e c o n c e p t i s s i m i l a r to the M e r c u r y
s p a c e c r a f t e m e r g e n c y landing s y s t e m . It c o n s i s t s of a launch e s c a p e
of the f i r e b a l l , in c a s e of an o n - t h e - p a d - e m e r g e n c y e l i m i n a t e s the e j e c t i o n
s e a t a p p r o a c h u s e d on the G e m i n i s p a c e c r a f t .
b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r n o r m a l and a b o r t m i s s i o n l a n d i n g s . This c r e a t e s
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altitude f o r the d e p l o y m e n t of a b a c k - u p p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m in c a s e of a
It m a y be of i n t e r e s t to m e n t i o n h e r e that only f o u r m a n - r a t e d
s y s t e m s e x i s t w h i c h u s e the p a r a c h u t e as the p r i m a r y m e a n s of t r a n s p o r -
PARACHUTE SYSTEM
The f i n a l p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m s e l e c t e d f o r the A p o l l o c o m m a n d m o d u l e
i s s h o w n in F i g u r e 2. T w o r i b b o n d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s a c c o m p l i s h initial
c h u t e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y e l i m i n a t e s the n e e d f o r an e m e r g e n c y sensor,
p r o v i d e s f o r f a s t e r C M s t a b i l i z a t i o n and c r e a t e s m o r e f a v o r a b l e m a i n
p a r a c h u t e s ; t w o of w h i c h w i l l p r o v i d e the r a t e of d e s c e n t n e c e s s a r y f o r
m a i n p a r a c h u t e f a i l u r e s e l i m i n a t e d the n e c e s s i t y f o r a f o u r t h m a i n p a r a -
chute. A g a i n d e p l o y i n g a l l t h r e e p a r a c h u t e s p r e c l u d e s the n e e d f o r a
landing c o n d i t i o n s .
The s e l e c t i o n of the p a r t i c u l a r p a r a c h u t e s i s b a s e d on g e n e r a l p e r -
f o r m a n c e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as w e l l as on the s u c c e s s f u l use of t h e s e p a r a -
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II NORTHROP VENTURA
F i g u r e 2. The A p o l l o P a r a c h u t e S y s t e m
The p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t s e q u e n c e f o r landing a f t e r c o m p l e t e d
to s u p p o r t a p e x c o v e r r e m o v a l and to p r e v e n t r e c o n t a c t b e t w e e n c o v e r and
o r d n a n c e c u t t e r s and t h r e e p i l o t p a r a c h u t e s a r e m o r t a r d e p l o y e d s i m u l t a -
n e o u s l y at 90 d e g r e e s to the c o m m a n d m o d u l e v e r t i c a l ; t h e s e p i l o t p a r a -
i s c o n t r o l l e d by a f u l l y a u t o m a t i c redundant s e q u e n c i n g s y s t e m with a m a n u a l
o v e r r i d e m o d e a v a i l a b l e as b a c k - u p s y s t e m at the a s t r o n a u t s d i s c r e t i o n .
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Three Main Parachutes Drogue Chutes Two Drogue Chutes Apex Cover Ejected Start Of
Extracted by Mortar Discon nected Mortar Deployed At by Pyro-Thruster Recovery
Deployed Pilot Chutes T * 6 sec and 7. 2-ft -dia.
Three Pilot
Rate of Descent Chutes Mortal Ri„« Slot Parachute 35. 000 ft
T. Velocity: 0. 7 Mach
V v - 29 f t / s e c Deploy ed
Main Parachutes
Altitud e ~ 1 0 . (
Reefed in Two Steps
F i g u r e 3. N o r m a l Landing S e q u e n c e
A B O R T PARACHUTE D E P L O Y M E N T SEQUENCE
T h e a b o r t p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t s e q u e n c e s a r e i l l u s t r a t e d in
F i g u r e 4. T h i s m o d e i s o p e r a t i o n a l f r o m p r i o r to launch to an altitude of
d e g r e e of s t a b i l i t y . F o u r t e e n s e c o n d s a f t e r C M l i f t - o f f , the e s c a p e t o w e r ,
altitude of r e c o v e r y i n i t i a t i o n . The p r i m a r y c o n t r o l a g a i n i s p r o v i d e d by
the a u t o m a t i c r e d u n d a n t s e q u e n c i n g s y s t e m with an a s t r o n a u t c o n t r o l l e d
a r e within the a l l o w a b l e m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t l i m i t s .
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II NORTHROP VENTURA
F i g u r e 4. A b o r t Landing S e q u e n c e s
p r i m a r y r e g i o n s of d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t , see
F i g u r e 5. At the f i n a l p h a s e of a c o m p l e t e d m i s s i o n the c o m m a n d m o d u l e
t w o d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s ( n o r m a l r e e n t r y r e g i o n in F i g u r e 5). The a s t r o n a u t
d i t i o n s m a k e it a d v i s a b l e to do s o .
In c a s e of high altitude a b o r t c o m m a n d m o d u l e m o t i o n s c a n r e s u l t
f e e t at d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e s in the 10 to 100 p s f r a n g e .
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MACH NO.
The m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t r e g i o n i s d e f i n e d by the c r o s s -
h a t c h e d a r e a in F i g u r e 5. A u t o m a t i c s i m u l t a n e o u s d i s c o n n e c t of the two
d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s and d e p l o y m e n t of the t h r e e m a i n p a r a c h u t e s by m e a n s
d e p l o y m e n t by a u t o m a t i c c o n t r o l m a y o c c u r in a b o r t c a s e s b e t w e e n 10, 000
chute d i s c o n n e c t to m a i n p a r a c h u t e c a n o p y s t r e t c h a d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e
i n c r e a s e of 20 p s f c a n o c c u r in v e r t i c a l d e s c e n t .
during a b o r t c a u s e s c o m m a n d m o d u l e m o t i o n s in p i t c h , r o l l and y a w .
p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t and o p e n i n g , and i n c r e a s e s i n d i v i d u a l p a r a c h u t e l o a d s .
A l l t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d in d e t e r m i n i n g p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t
and l o a d c o n d i t i o n .
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SYSTEM APPROACH
m a i n p a r a c h u t e s as the p r i m a r y s y s t e m f o r s u c c e s s f u l n o r m a l landing.
without l o s s of c r e w o r c o m m a n d m o d u l e s . P o t e n t i a l s i n g l e point f a i l u r e s
extent. A m i n i m u m f a c t o r of s a f e t y of 1 . 3 5 w a s d e f i n e d f o r all c o m p o n e n t s
and p a r a c h u t e stages.
T h i s d e s i g n r u l e c o n c e p t w a s s u p p l e m e n t e d as the p r o j e c t p r o g r e s s e d
by a s t a t i s t i c a l a p p r o a c h to the p r o b a b i l i t y of o c c u r r e n c e s of s i n g l e and
d e p l o y m e n t , p y r o - m e c h a n i c a l f a i l u r e s due to p r e m a t u r e a c t i o n as w e l l as
m o d e l that i n c l u d e d s e n s i t i v i t y s t u d i e s , c a l c u l a t i o n s of the r e l i a b i l i t y
r e l i a b i l i t y a p p o r t i o n m e n t f o r the p a r a c h u t e subsystem.
A f l i g h t m o d e p r o b a b i l i t y a n a l y s i s c o n c l u d e d that c a s e s w h e r e a
in a l o g i c a l f a s h i o n by l o o k i n g at e a c h c o m p o n e n t , subassembly, and s u b -
s y s t e m and c o n s i d e r i n g :
What i s its f a i l u r e m o d e ?
Its p r o b a b i l i t y of f a i l u r e ?
Its t e s t h i s t o r y ?
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Its c o m p l e x i t y ?
C a n it b e i n s p e c t e d and c h e c k e d ?
Can i t s f a i l u r e o r i m p e n d i n g f a i l u r e be d e t e c t e d ?
T a b l e 1 s h o w s a t y p i c a l p r o b a b i l i t y a n a l y s i s f o r actual flight m o d e s
u s e d to a n a l y z e v a r i o u s p a r a c h u t e c l u s t e r d e p l o y m e n t m o d e s s h o w n in
F i g u r e 6. The s u p e r i o r i t y of a p a r a c h u t e c l u s t e r with i n d e p e n d e n t l y d e p l o y e d
p a r a c h u t e s ( s y s t e m I) in c o m p a r i s o n to the m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l d e p l o y m e n t
T a b l e 1. P r o b a b i l i t y of P a r a c h u t e L o a d and F a i l u r e Occurrence
(2) (3)
OD 2M > 2 1. 000 > 2 5. 000 > 40. C
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F i g u r e 6. R e l i a b i l i t y C o m p a r i s o n of P a r a c h u t e C l u s t e r S y s t e m s
DESIGN C R I T E R I A
M S C , the r e s p o n s i b l e G o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y . F o l l o w i n g d e s i g n r u l e s and
2) T h e p r i m a r y s y s t e m c o n s i s t s of a s i n g l e d r o g u e
p a r a c h u t e and two m a i n p a r a c h u t e s with a redundant
d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and a redundant m a i n p a r a c h u t e
s e r v i n g as b a c k - u p .
3) No s i n g l e c o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e shall c a u s e l o s s of c r e w
or m i s s i o n .
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4) The p r o b a b i l i t y of o c c u r r e n c e of p a r a l l e l f a i l u r e s
s u c h as l o s s of t w o d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s shall be
m i n i m i z e d to the m a x i m u m e x t e n t p o s s i b l e .
F a i l u r e s s u c h as l o s s of one d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e
and one m a i n p a r a c h u t e a r e to be c o n s i d e r e d .
6) C o m p o n e n t s o r a s s e m b l i e s that c o n t r o l a c t i v e f u n c t i o n s
s u c h as o r d n a n c e d e v i c e s , a n e r o i d s o r r e l a y s m u s t b e
d e s i g n e d f o r p r e v e n t i o n of p r e m a t u r e functioning as
w e l l as n o n f u n c t i o n i n g .
7) A m i n i m u m f a c t o r of s a f e t y of 1. 35 m u s t be p r o v e n
f o r a l l s t r u c t u r a l c o m p o n e n t s and p a r a c h u t e l o a d
s t a g e s in u l t i m a t e l o a d t e s t s .
8) A l l p a r a c h u t e s shall b e i n d e p e n d e n t l y d e p l o y e d and
shall utilize active deployment m e a n s .
DESIGN L O A D S
The p r o b a b i l i t y a n a l y s i s d e s c r i b e d p r e v i o u s l y d e t e r m i n e d that
d u c e d the m a x i m u m d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e d e s i g n l o a d s :
High altitude a b o r t
One d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e
U n f a v o r a b l e c o m m a n d m o d u l e attitude and m o t i o n s at
drogue parachute deployment.
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The m a x i m u m m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e s i g n l o a d s a r e p r o d u c e d b y
following combinations:
High altitude a b o r t
Single d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e
D i f f e r e n t i a l m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t due to
u n f a v o r a b l e C M attitude at p a r a c h u t e e x t r a c t i o n
A e r o d y n a m i c blanketing b e t w e e n r e e f e d p a r a c h u t e s
r e s u l t i n g in a lag and l e a d p a r a c h u t e c o n d i t i o n .
a l l s u b s e q u e n t l o a d s t a g e s as w e l l . The m a x i m u m l o a d s of the r e e f e d
e v e n t s ; this n e c e s s i t a t e s an e x t e n s i v e a n a l y s i s and m u t u a l a g r e e m e n t s
c o m m a n d m o d u l e m o t i o n s in t h r e e a x e s b e c o m e i m p o r t a n t a s i x - d e g r e e -
c o m b i n a t i o n of u n f a v o r a b l e e v e n t s and the u l t i m a t e l o a d c a l c u l a t e d to be
1. 35 t i m e s the d e s i g n l o a d .
p r o v i n g in t e s t s that a l l p a r a c h u t e s t a g e s w i l l w i t h s t a n d the u l t i m a t e l o a d
of 1 . 3 5 t i m e s the d e s i g n l o a d .
A c t u a l u l t i m a t e l o a d t e s t p o i n t s a r e s h o w n in F i g u r e 7 to d o c u m e n t
c o m p l i a n c e with the s t r i n g e n t t e s t r e q u i r e m e n t s .
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• F DESIGN LOADS
SINGLE PARACHUTE / ° / R HIGH ALTITUDE ABORT
LOAD (1000 LB) 1 ' / / (1 DC. 2 MP)
k / / /
R NORMAL ENTRY LOADS (2 DC, 3 MP)
O SUCCESSFUL TEST
DC DROGUE CHUTE
MP MAIN PARACHUTE
F i g u r e 7. D r o g u e P a r a c h u t e and M a i n P a r a c h u t e L o a d s
T e s t i n g of the A p o l l o p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m i n t r o d u c e s p r o b l e m s not
n o r m a l l y e n c o u n t e r e d in t e s t i n g of p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m s . The d e s i g n l i m i t
A p o l l o C M p a r a c h u t e d e c k but had a m u c h s m a l l e r v e h i c l e d i a m e t e r w e r e
able to r e a c h a f t e r a i r c r a f t d r o p v e l o c i t i e s in v e r t i c a l d e s c e n t that
p e r m i t t e d to o b t a i n the d e s i g n as w e l l as u l t i m a t e p a r a c h u t e l o a d s .
T e s t p r o c e d u r e s w e r e g r e a t l y c o m p l i c a t e d by the r e q u i r e m e n t s
to be d u p l i c a t e d in t e s t s .
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F i n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n t e s t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d with s p a c e c r a f t end i t e m
h a r d w a r e and a g e o m e t r i c a l l y and d y n a m i c a l l y s i m i l a r A p o l l o b o i l e r p l a t e
conditions.
m o d i f i e d C - 1 3 3 a i r c r a f t w a s u s e d f o r d r o p p i n g the b o i l e r p l a t e t e s t v e h i c l e s
S i n g l e and m u l t i p l e p r o g r a m m e r p a r a c h u t e s e s t a b l i s h e d v e r t i c a l t r a j e c -
t o r i e s and t e s t c o n d i t i o n s f o r i n d i v i d u a l p a r a c h u t e t e s t s o r c o n s e c u t i v e
b o i l e r p l a t e p a r a c h u t e t e s t v e h i c l e p r i o r to and a f t e r t e s t is shown in
F i g u r e s 8 and 9.
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P A R A C H U T E LOAD TESTS
D e s i g n l o a d and u l t i m a t e l o a d t e s t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d with s i n g l e
o b t a i n e d by p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t at a high d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e . This
a p p r o a c h f a i l s to p r o d u c e u l t i m a t e l o a d s in s u b s e q u e n t r e e f e d s t a g e s s i n c e
the r e e f i n g t i m e o r by a c o m b i n a t i o n of both m e t h o d s .
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o r d e r to p r e d i c t what l o a d s o b t a i n e d b e h i n d an I C T V o r P T V a r e e q u i v a l e n t
to l o a d p r e d i c t i o n s f o r the c o m m a n d m o d u l e .
It w a s i m p o s s i b l e to p r e d i c t p a r a c h u t e t e s t l o a d s with the d e s i r e d a c c u r a c y
a l s o p r o p e r t e s t c o n d i t i o n s t h r o u g h p r o g r a m m e r p a r a c h u t e s and t i m e
of p a r a c h u t e t e s t i n g r e q u i r e s n o t a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t s b e f o r e t e s t data c a n
cent.
Dynamic -
•
F
Factor
CK
0
CDS F
(FT2) <
1
11.9 5. 8
1. 0
1
1
• u F
Parachutc Cylindrical
Mo< ule Test Vehicle Test Vehicle
Typical Ijiad Traces
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FAILURE TEST
C o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e s that w e r e d u p l i c a t e d in t e s t s i n c l u d e d s i n g l e
and s e r i e s d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e f a i l u r e s , m a i n p a r a c h u t e
t e s t s w e r e m o n i t o r e d by a r e l i a b i l i t y e n g i n e e r i n g g r o u p in o r d e r to a s s u r e
m a x i m u m b e n e f i t s as w e l l as i n d e p e n d e n t a s s e s s m e n t of t e s t s u c c e s s o r
failure.
ENVIRONMENTAL TEST
E x t e n s i v e t e s t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d to d e t e r m i n e if s p a c e e n v i r o n m e n t ,
No s t r e n g t h d e g r a d a t i o n w a s e n c o u n t e r e d on n y l o n and d a c r o n w h e n e x p o s e d
system. D e t a i l e d t e m p e r a t u r e p r o f i l e s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d f o r the d r o g u e
and m a i n p a r a c h u t e s f o r s p a c e f l i g h t as w e l l as f o r r e e n t r y with f o l l o w - o n
s t r e n g t h l o s s of 4 to 7 p e r c e n t c a n n o t be n e g l e c t e d w h e n w o r k i n g with a
f a c t o r of s a f e t y of 1. 3 5 . A s t r e n g t h d e g r a d i n g f a c t o r w a s i n t r o d u c e d in
u l t i m a t e l o a d t e s t s in the f o r m of an e q u i v a l e n t h i g h e r t e s t l o a d . The r e s u l t s
of the e x t e n s i v e l a b o r a t o r y e n v i r o n m e n t a l t e s t s a r e d o c u m e n t e d in n u m e r o u s
test r e p o r t s .
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QUALIFICATION TESTS
S e v e n q u a l i f i c a t i o n d r o p t e s t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d with the A p o l l o
T h i s i n c l u d e d t h r e e n o r m a l r e e n t r y t e s t s with v a r i a t i o n in d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e
t i m e s e q u e n c e f o r d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t . The
s e c o n d t e s t d u p l i c a t e d an a s t r o n a u t initiated d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e o v e r r i d e with
altitude a b o r t t e s t s d u p l i c a t e d d e p l o y m e n t in a n e a r h o r i z o n t a l t r a j e c t o r y
s u c c e s s f u l due to the d i f f i c u l t y of i n s t r u m e n t i n g a c t u a l S / C h a r d w a r e .
N u m e r o u s i n t e r e s t i n g d e s i g n d e t a i l s a r e c o n t a i n e d in the A p o l l o
parachute system. T h e r e l i a b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t of i n d e p e n d e n t p a r a c h u t e
d i v e r g e n t d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and m a i n p i l o t p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t a n g l e s
c o u p l e d w i t h p o s i t i v e t h r u s t e r type d e p l o y m e n t . The c o m m a n d m o d u l e
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w e i g h t without an a c c o m p a n y i n g i n c r e a s e in c o m p a r t m e n t v o l u m e o r
a l l o w a b l e p a r a c h u t e c l u s t e r l o a d s r e s u l t e d in n o v e l d e s i g n a p p r o a c h e s f o r
DROGUE P A R A C H U T E M O R T A R ASSEMBLY
p a r a c h u t e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e r i s e r s end in s t e e l c a b l e s w h i c h a r e a t t a c h e d
risers. T h e white s t r i n g s s h o w n in F i g u r e 11 a r e e l e c t r i c a l l e a d s to
F i g u r e 11. D r o g u e P a r a c h u t e Bay
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F i g u r e 12 s h o w s the m o r t a r a s s e m b l y w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e s an unusual s t e e l
c a b l e s t o r a g e and c a r t r i d g e o r i f i c e d e s i g n . In o r d e r to p r e v e n t r i s e r
kinking by r e l e a s i n g the p r e - w o u n d t e n s i o n .
C o m m a n d m o d u l e m o t i o n s during d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t m a y c a u s e
e a c h i n d i v i d u a l s t e e l c a b l e w i t h l e a d tubing h e l p e d to m i n i m i z e this p r o b l e m ,
CARTRIDGE
RESTRICTOR
DROGUE CHUTE
PACK
ASSEMBLY
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M O R T A R O R I F I C E DESIGN
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a r e c o m p a r e d in F i g u r e 14. P r e v i o u s l y u s e d o r i f i c e s as
t e m p e r a t u r e l e v e l of the e x p a n d i n g g a s high. T h i s d e s i g n r e s u l t s in a
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HYBRID ORIFICE
STANDARD (FIXED)
ORIFICE
- IDEAL TUBE
a PRESSURE CURVE
TVPICAll MOH'i'AR
PRESSURE CURVES VS.
fME
MAIN P A R A C H U T E R E E F I N G S Y S T E M
P r o j e c t M e r c u r y w a s the f i r s t m a n - r a t e d p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m that
i n c r e a s e in a l l o w a b l e p a r a c h u t e l o a d s m a d e a t w o - s t a g e r e e f i n g system
p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t p r e m a t u r e d i s r e e f i n g as w e l l as a g a i n s t f a i l u r e to d i s -
r e e f , a r e l i a b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t i n t r o d u c e d f o r the f i r s t t i m e on the A p o l l o
d r o g u e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e s . T h e d e t a i l s of the r e s u l t a n t m e c h a n i c a l
s e t of t w o r e e f i n g c u t t e r s . R u p t u r e o r p r e m a t u r e s e v e r a n c e of one line
parachute.
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M i d - g o r e r e e f i n g i s u s e d on a l l p a r a c h u t e s with the c u t t e r s
T h i s r e e f i n g s y s t e m w o r k e d without m a l f u n c t i o n during a l l d e v e l o p m e n t
and q u a l i f i c a t i o n t e s t s .
MAIN P A R A C H U T E R E T E N T I O N S Y S T E M
T h e m a i n p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t b a g s f o r m p a r t of a t r u n c a t e d c o n e
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a 25 p e r c e n t w e i g h t i n c r e a s e and a 6 p e r c e n t d e c r e a s e in a l l o w a b l e v o l u m e
T h i s r e s u l t e d in a p a r a c h u t e p a c k d e n s i t y of 0. 0245 l b / c u b i c i n c h . The
t r u n c a t e d c o n e f o r m i s m a i n t a i n e d f o r a p e r i o d of one y e a r without g r o w t h
l a y e r s of p o l y e t h y l e n e f i l m . The b a g s in the c o m m a n d m o d u l e p a r a c h u t e
b a y s a r e r e s t r a i n e d w i t h d a i s y c h a i n r e t a i n e r s on t h r e e s i d e s , see Figure
of d a c r o n felt f o r heat p r o t e c t i o n .
T h e l a r g e p r e s s e s r e q u i r e d f o r p a c k i n g of the m a i n p a r a c h u t e s
v a c u u m s t o r a g e in the w o o d e n f o r m e r s e a l e d with p l a s t i c f i l m , r e a d y f o r
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o r s t o r a g e i s s h o w n in F i g u r e 18. T h i s c o n c e p t has p r o v e n
its shape h o l d i n g c a p a b i l i t y in s e v e r a l A p o l l o f l i g h t s .
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II NORTHROP VENTURA
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CONCLUSIONS
C o m m a n d M o d u l e f r o m t i m e p r i o r to t a k e - o f f to c o m p l e t e d s p a c e m i s s i o n .
d a n c y , m i n i m u m w e i g h t and v o l u m e , and a m a x i m u m p a r a c h u t e f o r c e
a c c e p t a s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e in c o m m a n d m o d u l e w e i g h t , and a r e s u l t a n t
i n c r e a s e in r e c o v e r y e n v e l o p e and v e l o c i t y of p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t without
e n g i n e e r i n g a p p r o a c h u n p r e c e d e n t e d in s c o p e and c o m p l e x i t y in p a r a c h u t e
N o r t h A m e r i c a n R o c k w e l l and N o r t h r o p to m e e t p e r f o r m a n c e and s c h e d u l e
of adequate a n a l y t i c a l m e t h o d s f o r p r o p e r l y p r e d i c t i n g d y n a m i c b e h a v i o r ,
parachute systems. D e v e l o p m e n t of t h e s e p r e d i c t i o n m e t h o d s m u s t p r e -
c e d e any m a j o r i m p r o v e m e n t s in w e i g h t , v o l u m e , l o a d s , o r testing e c o n o m y
T h i s p a p e r d e s c r i b e s the c o m p l e x r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r the A p o l l o
s p a c e c r a f t p a r a c h u t e landing s y s t e m .
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