Airborne Systems

The Langley Research Center established the Planetary Entry Parachute Program (PEPP) to furnish a technological background to aid in the selection of a deceleration system for the Voyager mission. To meet this objective, flight tests that simulated conditions expected in the Martian atmosphere during parachute operation were conducted. One series consisted of carrying a large-size simulated Voyager entry spacecraft to 40 kilometers altitude by balloon. After release from the balloon, rockets accelerated the simulated spacecraft to test conditions and the parachute system was deployed. ASNA designed and manufactured the ringsail parachutes that were evaluated during this program.