Airborne Systems

Following the Challenger accident, the NASA Space Shuttle Program added the landing parabrake or drag chute to the Shuttle configuration. Airborne Systems (Irvin Industries at the time) was selected to work with Rockwell and a government team to develop this parachute system. Airborne designed, developed, qualified, produced and eventually enhanced the system for the Orbiter fleet.  During early flight testing, NASA quickly learned that the parabrake saves on tire wear plus a great deal of energy in the mechanical brakes of the Orbiter. Thus, the equipment conceived as emergency equipment became a valued part of the standard operations of the Shuttle. Airborne designed the pyrotechnically operated mortar which removes the compartment door and deploys the 9.0 ft pilot parachute upon crew command.  The pilot chute then deploys the 40.0 ft variable porosity conical ribbon main drag parachute. To date, there have been 84 uses of this system, with nominal function on each use.

Pictured below is the final landing of the Orbiter Discovery on March 9, 2011.