Accession Number:

AD0745335

Title:

Ringsail Parachute Design

Descriptive Note:

Final technical rept.

Corporate Author:

NORTHROP CORP NEWBURY PARK CA VENTURA DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Ewing, Edgar G.
• Vickers, Jack R.

Report Date:

1972-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

380.0

Abstract:

This document is intended for use as a design handbook for the ringsail parachute. It begins with an historical review of the aerodynamic and structural development of the parachute, including the development of the modified ringsail design used in the Apollo ELS main parachute cluster. Salient characteristics of all ringsail parachutes fabricated and tested over the past 16 years are summarized. An explosion of the present status of ringsail design and operational theory, with special emphasis on a general theory of the inflation characteristics of clustered canopies, is given. Accumulated performance and weight data are presented in tabular and graphical form. A detailed step-by-step procedure for the design of the ringsail parachute is given and illustrated by numerical example.

Descriptors:

• *PARACHUTES
• MANUFACTURING
• SPECIFICATIONS
• MANNED SPACECRAFT
• DESCENT TRAJECTORIES
• PARACHUTE DESCENTS
• PARACHUTE FABRICS
• SOFT LANDINGS

Subject Categories:

• Gliders and Parachutes

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE