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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

136-foot main parachute for recovery of Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters

A 136-ft-D(0) main parachute system has been developed to replace the present 115-ft-D(0) main parachutes currently flown on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) for the purpose of reducing the velocity at water impact. This cluster of three larger main parachutes will decelerate the 170,000-pound SRB to a terminal nominal impact velocity of 75 feet per second (ft/s) as compared to the present velocity of 88 ft/s. The paper discusses the design, development, and manufacturing of this 136-ft parachute.

Rodier, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Parachute recovery location aids

This paper presents various types of location aid devices that may be used individually or in some combination to locate parachutes designed for the recovery of scientific data and instrumentation that have impacted on the earth's surface. Systems may be used on either recovery parachute systems or high altitude parachute systems. It is noted that all location aids are passive during the data gathering period of flight. Initial results of test data from two types of direction finder receivers are presented as well as their application and use with parachute borne and other location transmitters.

Silbert, M. N.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Parachuting to Safety

NASA's Langley Research Center awarded Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., three Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to research and develop a new, low cost, lightweight recovery system for aircraft in both civilian and military markets. The company responded with a unique ballistic parachute system that lowers an entire aircraft to the ground in the event of an emergency. BRS parachutes are designed to provide a safe landing for pilots and passengers while keeping them in their aircraft. They currently fit ultralights, kit-built aircraft, and certified small business aircraft. The parachutes are lifesavers in cases of engine failure, mid-air collisions, pilot disorientation or incapacitation, unrecovered spins, extreme icing, and fuel exhaustion. To date, over 148 lives were saved as a result of a BRS parachute system.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2003

Multibody Parachute Flight Simulations for Planetary Entry Trajectories Using "Equilibrium Points"

A method has been developed to reduce numerical stiffness and computer CPU requirements of high fidelity multibody flight simulations involving parachutes for planetary entry trajectories. Typical parachute entry configurations consist of entry bodies suspended from a parachute, connected by flexible lines. To accurately calculate line forces and moments, the simulations need to keep track of the point where the flexible lines meet (confluence point). In previous multibody parachute flight simulations, the confluence point has been modeled as a point mass. Using a point mass for the confluence point tends to make the simulation numerically stiff, because its mass is typically much less that than the main rigid body masses. One solution for stiff differential equations is to use a very small integration time step. However, this results in large computer CPU requirements. In the method described in the paper, the need for using a mass as the confluence point has been eliminated. Instead, the confluence point is modeled using an "equilibrium point". This point is calculated at every integration step as the point at which sum of all line forces is zero (static equilibrium). The use of this "equilibrium point" has the advantage of both reducing the numerical stiffness of the simulations, and eliminating the dynamical equations associated with vibration of a lumped mass on a high-tension string.

Raiszadeh, Ben↗
NASA NTRS2003

Opening Loads Analyses for Various Disk-Gap-Band Parachutes

Detailed opening loads data is presented for 18 tests of Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) parachutes of varying geometry with nominal diameters ranging from 43.2 to 50.1 ft. All of the test parachutes were deployed from a mortar. Six of these tests were conducted via drop testing with drop test vehicles weighing approximately 3,000 or 8,000 lb. Twelve tests were conducted in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 80- by 120-foot wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center. The purpose of these tests was to structurally qualify the parachute for the Mars Exploration Rover mission. A key requirement of all tests was that peak parachute load had to be reached at full inflation to more closely simulate the load profile encountered during operation at Mars. Peak loads measured during the tests were in the range from 12,889 to 30,027 lb. Of the two test methods, the wind tunnel tests yielded more accurate and repeatable data. Application of an apparent mass model to the opening loads data yielded insights into the nature of these loads. Although the apparent mass model could reconstruct specific tests with reasonable accuracy, the use of this model for predictive analyses was not accurate enough to set test conditions for either the drop or wind tunnel tests. A simpler empirical model was found to be suitable for predicting opening loads for the wind tunnel tests to a satisfactory level of accuracy. However, this simple empirical model is not applicable to the drop tests.

Cruz, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS2006

A Generic Multibody Parachute Simulation Model

Flight simulation of dynamic atmospheric vehicles with parachute systems is a complex task that is not easily modeled in many simulation frameworks. In the past, the performance of vehicles with parachutes was analyzed by simulations dedicated to parachute operations and were generally not used for any other portion of the vehicle flight trajectory. This approach required multiple simulation resources to completely analyze the performance of the vehicle. Recently, improved software engineering practices and increased computational power have allowed a single simulation to model the entire flight profile of a vehicle employing a parachute.

Neuhaus, Jason Richard↗
NASA NTRS2007

Developing the Parachute System for NASA's Orion: An Overview at Inception

As the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) program developed, NASA decided to provide the parachute portion of the landing system as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and designated NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) as the responsible NASA center based on JSC s past experience with the X-38 program. JSC subsequently chose to have the Engineering Support contractor Jacobs Sverdrup to manage the overall program development. After a detailed source selection process Jacobs chose Irvin Aerospace Inc (Irvin) to provide the parachutes and mortars for the CEV Parachute Assembly System (CPAS). Thus the CPAS development team, including JSC, Jacobs and Irvin has been formed. While development flight testing will have just begun at the time this paper is submitted, a number of significant design decisions relative to the architecture for the manned spacecraft will have been completed. This paper will present an overview of the approach CPAS is taking to providing the parachute system for CEV, including: system requirements, the preliminary design solution, and the planned/completed flight testing.

Machin, Ricardo↗
NASA NTRS1968

Flight Test of a 30-Foot Nominal Diameter Cross Parachute Deployed at a Mach Number of 1.57 and a Dynamic Pressure of 9.7 Pounds per Square Foot

A 30-foot (9.1-meter) nominal-diameter cross-type parachute with a cloth area (reference area) of 709 square feet (65.9 square meters) was flight tested in the rocket-launched portion of the NASA Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP). The test parachute was ejected from an instrumented payload by means of a mortar when the system was at a Mach number of 1.57 and a dynamic pressure of 9.7 psf. The parachute deployed to suspension-line stretch in 0.44 second with a resulting snatch-force loading of 1100 pounds (4900 newtons), Canopy inflation began at 0.58 second and a first full inflation was achieved at approximately 0.77 second. The maximum opening load occurred at 0.81 second and was 4255 pounds (18,930 newtons). Thereafter, the test item exhibited a canopy-shape instability in that the four panel arms experienced fluctuations, a "scissoring" type of motion predominating throughout the test period. Calculated values of axial-force coefficient during the deceleration portion of the test varied between 0.35 and 1.05, with an average value of 0.69. During descent, canopy-shape variations had reduced to small amplitudes and resultant pitch-yaw angles of the payload with respect to the local vertical averaged less than 10 degrees. The effective drag coefficient, based on the vertical components of velocity and acceleration during system descent, was 0.78.

TESTS↗
NASA NTRS1967

Performance of 26 Meter Diameter Ringsail Parachute in a Simulated Martian Environment

Inflation, drag, and stability characteristics of an 85.3-foot (26-meter) nominal diameter ringsail parachute deployed at a Mach number of 1.15 and at an altitude of 132,600 feet (40.42 kilometers) were obtained from the first flight test of the Planetary Entry Parachute Program. After deployment, the parachute inflated to the reefed condition. However, the canopy was unstable and produced low drag in the reefed condition. Upon disreefing and opening to full inflation, a slight instability in the canopy mouth was observed initially. After a short time, the fluctuations diminished and a stable configuration was attained. Results indicate a loss in drag during the fluctuation period prior to stable inflation. During descent, stability characteristics of the system were such that the average pitch-yaw angle from the local vertical was less than 10 degrees. Rolling motion between the payload and parachute canopy quickly damped to small amplitude.

Whitlock, Charles H.↗
NASA NTRS2008

A Status Report on the Parachute Development for NASA's Next Manned Spacecraft

NASA has determined that the parachute portion of the Landing System for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) will be Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). The Earth Landing System has been designated CEV Parachute Assembly System (CPAS). Thus a program team was developed consisting of NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Jacobs Engineering through their Engineering and Science Contract Group (ESCG). Following a rigorous competitive phase, Airborne Systems North America was selected to provide the parachute design, testing and manufacturing role to support this team. The development program has begun with some early flight testing of a Generation 1 parachute system. Future testing will continue to refine the design and complete a qualification phase prior to manned flight of the spacecraft. The program team will also support early spacecraft system testing, including a Pad Abort Flight Test in the Fall of 2008

Sinclair, Robert↗
NASA NTRS2005

The Mega Mesospheric Parachute

The current understanding and modeling of the upper reaches of the atmosphere is incomplete. Upper atmospheric interactions with the lower atmosphere, effects of ionizing radiation, high altitude cloud phenomena, and the dynamical interaction with the magnetosphere require greater definition. The scientific objective of obtaining a greater understanding of the upper atmosphere can be achieved by designing, implementing, testing, and utilizing a facility that provides long period in-situ measurements of the mesosphere. Current direct sub-sonic measurements of the upper atmosphere are hampered by the approximately one minute sub-sonic observation window of a ballistic sounding rocket regardless of the launch angle. In-situ measurements at greater than transonic speeds impart energy into the molecular atmospheric system and distort the true atmospheric chemistry. A long duration, sub-sonic capability will significantly enhance our ability to observe and measure: (1) mesospheric lightning phenomena (sprites and blue jets) (2) composition, structure and stratification of noctilucent clouds (3) physics of seasonal radar echoes, gravity wave phenomena (4) chemistry of mesospheric gaseous ratio mixing (5) mesospheric interaction of ionizing radiation (6) dynamic electric and magnetic fields This new facility will also provide local field measurements which complement those that can be obtained through external measurements from satellite and ground-based platforms. The 400 foot (approximately 130 meter) diameter lightweight mega-mesospheric parachute system, deployed with a sounding rocket, is proposed herein as a method to increase sub-sonic mesospheric measurement time periods by more than an order of magnitude. The report outlines a multi-year evolving science instrumentation suite in parallel with the development of the mega meso-chute facility. The developmental issues surrounding the meso-chute are chiefly materials selection (thermal and structural) and deployment mechanism physics. Three mission cases were conceived and developed to include cost and schedules estimates. Each scenario has increasing scientific utility with paralleling launch weight, parachute hang-time, deployment altitude, and parachute size: (1) Case #1: $8.4M@24 months, 6kg payload, 20 min., 50km alt., 80 m. dia. (2) Case #2: $10.4M@24 months, 6kg payload, 20 min., 60km alt, 130m. dia. (3) Case #3: $13.6M@36 months, 30kg payload, 30 min., 90km alt., 200m. dia. The initial breakout cost for the parachute system is approximately $2M@24 months. This report identifies that although the challenges of the mega-meso-chute may be difficult, they can be surmounted and valuable results can be achieved.

Kloesel, Kurt J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Aerothermodynamic Design of the Mars Science Laboratory Backshell and Parachute Cone

Aerothermodynamic design environments are presented for the Mars Science Laboratory entry capsule backshell and parachute cone. The design conditions are based on Navier-Stokes flowfield simulations on shallow (maximum total heat load) and steep (maximum heat flux) design entry trajectories from a 2009 launch. Transient interference effects from reaction control system thruster plumes were included in the design environments when necessary. The limiting backshell design heating conditions of 6.3 W/sq cm for heat flux and 377 J/sq cm for total heat load are not influenced by thruster firings. Similarly, the thrusters do not affect the parachute cover lid design environments (13 W/sq cm and 499 J/sq cm). If thruster jet firings occur near peak dynamic pressure, they will augment the design environments at the interface between the backshell and parachute cone (7 W/sq cm and 174 J/sq cm). Localized heat fluxes are higher near the thruster fairing during jet firings, but these areas did not require additional thermal protection material. Finally, heating bump factors were developed for antenna radomes on the parachute cone

Edquist, Karl T.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Reefing of Quarter Spherical Ribbon Parachutes Used in the Ares I First Stage Deceleration System

This paper introduces the parachutes that have been drop tested in support of the Ares I first stage deceleration system development. The results of the tests show that the reefing ratios for these quarter spherical ribbon parachutes provide the same reefed drag area as historical conical ribbon parachutes. Two sources are investigated for properly normalizing the parachutes relative to their suspension line length, and one is found to be superior.

Schmidt, Jason R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Parachute Drag Model

DTV-SIM is a computer program that implements a mathematical model of the flight dynamics of a missile-shaped drop test vehicle (DTV) equipped with a multistage parachute system that includes two simultaneously deployed drogue parachutes and three main parachutes deployed subsequently and simultaneously by use of pilot parachutes. DTV-SIM was written to support air-drop tests of the DTV/parachute system, which serves a simplified prototype of a proposed crew capsule/parachute landing system.

Cuthbert, Peter↗
NASA NTRS2011

Reverse Launch Abort System Parachute Architecture Trade Study

This study investigated a potential Launch Abort System (LAS) Concept of Operations and abort parachute architecture. The purpose of the study was to look at the concept of jettisoning the LAS tower forward (Reverse LAS or RLAS) into the free-stream flow rather than after reorienting to a heatshield forward orientation. A hypothesized benefit was that due to the compressed timeline the dynamic pressure at main line stretch would be substantially less. This would enable the entry parachutes to be designed and sized based on entry loading conditions rather than the current stressing case of a Pad Abort. Ultimately, concerns about the highly dynamic reorientation of the CM via parachutes, and the additional requirement of a triple bridle attachment for the RLAS parachute system, overshadowed the potential benefits and ended this effort.

Litton, Daniel K.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Human Rating the Orion Parachute System

Human rating begins with design. Converging on the requirements and identifying the risks as early as possible in the design process is essential. Understanding of the interaction between the recovery system and the spacecraft will in large part dictate the achievable reliability of the final design. Component and complete system full-scale flight testing is critical to assure a realistic evaluation of the performance and reliability of the parachute system. However, because testing is so often difficult and expensive, comprehensive analysis of test results and correlation to accurate modeling completes the human rating process. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Orion program uses parachutes to stabilize and decelerate the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) spacecraft during subsonic flight in order to deliver a safe water landing. This paper describes the approach that CEV Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) will take to human rate the parachute recovery system for the CEV.

Machin, Ricardo A.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Verification and Validation of Requirements on the CEV Parachute Assembly System Using Design of Experiments

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) project conducts computer simulations to verify that flight performance requirements on parachute loads and terminal rate of descent are met. Design of Experiments (DoE) provides a systematic method for variation of simulation input parameters. When implemented and interpreted correctly, a DoE study of parachute simulation tools indicates values and combinations of parameters that may cause requirement limits to be violated. This paper describes one implementation of DoE that is currently being developed by CPAS, explains how DoE results can be interpreted, and presents the results of several preliminary studies. The potential uses of DoE to validate parachute simulation models and verify requirements are also explored.

Schulte, Peter Z.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Simulating New Drop Test Vehicles and Test Techniques for the Orion CEV Parachute Assembly System

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) project is engaged in a multi-year design and test campaign to qualify a parachute recovery system for human use on the Orion Spacecraft. Test and simulation techniques have evolved concurrently to keep up with the demands of a challenging and complex system. The primary simulations used for preflight predictions and post-test data reconstructions are Decelerator System Simulation (DSS), Decelerator System Simulation Application (DSSA), and Drop Test Vehicle Simulation (DTV-SIM). The goal of this paper is to provide a roadmap to future programs on the test technique challenges and obstacles involved in executing a large-scale, multi-year parachute test program. A focus on flight simulation modeling and correlation to test techniques executed to obtain parachute performance parameters are presented.

Morris, Aaron L.↗