NORTHROP VENTURA

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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A HALL LIBRARY
e Engineering Technology

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as City MO 64110 USA

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NORTHROP VENTURA

INTRODUCTION

The " A p o l l o P a r a c h u t e Landing S y s t e m " today is p r o b a b i l y the

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

suitable f o r w a t e r landing. In addition it p r o v i d e s , t o g e t h e r with the Launch

E s c a p e S y s t e m , the m e a n s f o r s a f e l y landing the A p o l l o c r e w f o r all

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

d o e s not e s t a b l i s h any r e c o r d s in r e c o v e r e d w e i g h t , v e l o c i t y , or altitude

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

a p p r o a c h and the e x t e n s i v e utilization of r e l i a b i l i t y and s y s t e m s a n a l y s i s

c o m b i n e d with a d v a n c e d d e s i g n and testing m e t h o d s have c r e a t e d an out-

standing redundant m a n - r a t e d s y s t e m c a p a b l e of s a f e l y landing the A p o l l o

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 .

The s y s t e m a p p r o a c h started with a d e s i g n c o n c e p t that d e f i n e d all

landings including n o r m a l landing a f t e r c o m p l e t e d m i s s i o n and m i s s i o n

a b o r t landings as o p e r a t i o n a l c a s e s and e s t a b l i s h e d the ground rule that no

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

the p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m p r o g r e s s e d , with a p r o b a b i l i t y a p p r o a c h to the m o s t

o r l e a s t likeable c o m b i n a t i o n s of p a r a l l e l or s e r i e s functions and f a i l u r e s

of c o m p o n e n t s and s u b s y s t e m s . It ruled out those c a s e s that had an

e x t r e m e l y low p r o b a b i l i t y of o c c u r r e n c e and r e q u i r e d d e v e l o p m e n t and

testing of t h o s e c o m b i n a t i o n s with a p r o b a b i l i t y of o c c u r r e n c e above a

" s i g n i f i c a n t " l e v e l r e l a t e d to total m i s s i o n r e l i a b i l i t y . This method

provided a c l e a r l y defined s y s t e m reliability approach, and p e r m i t t e d the

e s t a b l i s h m e n t of l o g i c a l d e s i g n c r i t e r i a . The r e s u l t i n g parachute system

w a s able to c o p e with the c o n s i d e r a b l e c o m m a n d m o d u l e weight i n c r e a s e s

c a u s e d by n o r m a l d e s i g n c h a n g e s and the added safety m e a s u r e s dictated

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by the c o m m a n d m o d u l e f i r e . Landing a f t e r c o m p l e t e d lunar m i s s i o n i s

p r i m a r i l y a p r o b l e m of r e l i a b i l i t y but not of high p e r f o r m a n c e requirements.

A l l l i m i t d e s i g n c a s e s of high d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e s , large command module

o s c i l l a t i o n s and high l o a d s a r e the r e s u l t of a b o r t c a s e s , in p a r t i c u l a r ,

high altitude a b o r t and pad a b o r t .

The A p o l l o s p a c e c r a f t and the s u b s y s t e m s i n v o l v e d in p a r a c h u t e

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

( C M ) , the L a u n c h E s c a p e S y s t e m ( L E S ) with c a n a r d s and p i t c h - o v e r control

m o t o r s ( P C M ) , the b o o s t p r o t e c t i o n c o v e r ( B T C ) , and the a p e x c o v e r o r

f o r w a r d heat s h i e l d . The latter p r o t e c t s the p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m l o c a t e d

o u t s i d e the c r e w c o m p a r t m e n t in the upper p a r t of the 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

probability, new a p p r o a c h e s to t e s t i n g of the p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m , s e r i e s and

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 p a r a c h u t e landing s y s t e m m u s t a s s u r e s a f e landing f o r two

p r i m a r y landing m o d e s : (a) landing a f t e r c o m p l e t e d m i s s i o n ; and (b) landings

by m e a n s of the launch e s c a p e s y s t e m ( L E S ) f r o m the t i m e the A p o l l o c r e w

i s in the s p a c e c r a f t p r i o r to t a k e - o f f to a p p r o x i m a t e l y 300, 000 f e e t a f t e r

s e c o n d stage b o o s t e r i g n i t i o n . A b o v e 300, 000 f e e t n o r m a l landings c a n

be p e r f o r m e d by the A p o l l o C o m m a n d and S e r v i c e M o d u l e ( C S M ) without

the l a u n c h e s c a p e system.

Landings after m i s s i o n abort involve s p e c i a l p r o b l e m s dependent

upon the altitude at w h i c h a b o r t t a k e s p l a c e : (a) P a d - A b o r t c a u s e s e x t e n s i v e

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

m i n i m u m altitude r e q u i r e m e n t s ; (b) m e d i u m altitude a b o r t i n v o l v e s c o m p l e x

s e q u e n c i n g m o d e s ; and ( c ) high altitude a b o r t r e s u l t s in m a x i m u m d y n a m i c

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

s y s t e m ( L E S ) that p r o v i d e s the c o m m a n d m o d u l e with safe v e r t i c a l and

h o r i z o n t a l s e p a r a t i o n f r o m the b o o s t e r o r the b o o s t e r - f i r e b a l l and a s s u r e s

s u f f i c i e n t altitude f o r p r o p e r , sequential parachute deployment. The s i z 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 .

E a r l y in the p r o g r a m , it w a s d e c i d e d to e s t a b l i s h the s a m e relia-

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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the n e e d of s u f f i c i e n t t i m e f o r f a i l u r e s e n s i n g and f o r obtaining adequate

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

malfunctioning p r i m a r y system. T h e l a t t e r i s e s p e c i a l l y d i f f i c u l t when

one c o n s i d e r s the n e c e s s a r y t h r u s t and t i m e r e q u i r e d to c o p e with a

booster tilt-over pad-abort emergency.

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 -

tation. T h e s e a r e , b e s i d e s the A p o l l o s p a c e c r a f t , the p a r a c h u t e systems

f o r the M e r c u r y and G e m i n i s p a c e c r a f t s and the p a r a t r o o p e r p a r a c h u t e .

A l l of t h e s e s y s t e m s use the p r i m a r y and b a c k - u p p a r a c h u t e c o n c e p t .

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

d e c e l e r a t i o n and s t a b i l i z a t i o n , w i t h only one p a r a c h u t e being r e q u i r e d and

the s e c o n d p a r a c h u t e p r o v i d i n g the b a c k - u p m o d e . D e p l o y i n g both p a r a -

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

parachute deployment conditi ons. A f t e r d i s c o n n e c t the two d r o g u e p a r a -

chutes are f o l l o w e d by three pilot parachute deployed Ringsail main

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

water landing. A d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of the p r o b a b i l i t y of two s i m u l t a n e o u s

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

failure sensor, s a v e s t i m e and altitude and e s t a b l i s h e s m o r e f a v o r a b l e

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 -

chute t y p e s f o r the G e m i n i and M e r c u r y p a r a c h u t e landing systems.

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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

NORMAL PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT

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

m i s s i o n i s s h o w n in F i g u r e 3. The r e c o v e r y s e q u e n c e s t a r t s with the turning

o f f of the r e a c t i o n c o n t r o l s y s t e m and with the e j e c t i o n of the a p e x c o v e r at

an altitude of 25, 000 f e e t . A 7. 2 f o o t d i a m e t e r r i n g s l o t p a r a c h u t e i s u s 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

command module. The two d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s a r e m o r t a r e j e c t e d , the

i n d i v i d u a l attach p o i n t s p r o v i d e f o r a c o m m a n d m o d u l e hang angle of 29. 5

degrees. At 10, 000 f e e t the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s a r e d i s c o n n e c t e d by

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 -

c h u t e s in t u r n e x t r a c t the t h r e e m a i n p a r a c h u t e s . The d e p l o y m e n t sequence

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

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 00, 000 f e e t . Upon a b o r t c o m m a n d the launch e s c a p e m o t o r

f i r e s and l i f t s the C M o f f the Saturn b o o s t e r . T h e p i t c h o v e r m o t o r and

the c a n a r d s p r o v i d e h o r i z o n t a l s e p a r a t i o n , CM turn-around, and a l i m i t e d

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 ,

boost protection cover, and d o c k i n g p r o b e s e p a r a t e f o l l o w e d b y the t i m e

o r altitude c o n t r o l l e d 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 depending on the

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

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 . The a s t r o n a u t , on pad o r low altitude

a b o r t , c a n s e l e c t to o v e r r i d e the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s and to d e p l o y the m a i n

p a r a c h u t e s i m m e d i a t e l y as long as the d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e and the altitude

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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HIGH ALTITUDE ABORT

F i g u r e 4. A b o r t Landing S e q u e n c e s

PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT ENVELOPE

The o p e r a t i o n a l p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t e n v e l o p e d e f i n e s the two

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

after reentry, d e s c e n d s in s t a b l e attitude. At an altitude of a p p r o x i m a t e l y

25, 000 f e e t and b e l o w 124 p s f an a u t o m a t i c s e q u e n c i n g s y s t e m d e p l o y s the

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

m a y d e p l o y the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s up to 40, 000 f e e t altitude if flight c o n -

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

in d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e s as high as 204 p s f ; this p r e c l u d e s m a n u a l d e p l o y m e n t

of the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s a b o v e 25, 000 f e e t . P a d a b o r t and low o r m e d i u m

altitude a b o r t r e q u i r e p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t at a l t i t u d e s as low as 3, 000

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.

F i g u r e 5. Parachute Deployment Envelope

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

of m o r t a r e j e c t e d p i l o t p a r a c h u t e s o c c u r s at 1 1, 000 f e e t . Main parachute

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

to 18, 000 f e e t due to a n e r o i d s e n s o r lag and a s c e n t and d e s c e n t h y s t e r e s i s .

It i s i n t e r e s t i n g to note that during the i n t e r v a l f r o m d r o g u e p a r a -

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 .

The c o m m a n d m o d u l e during r e e n t r y i s s t a b i l i z e d b y a redundant

r e a c t i o n control s y s t e m (RCS). Use of a c h e m i c a l l y a c t i v e f u e l p r e v e n t s

use of the RCS a f t e r p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t . L a c k of R C S s t a b i l i z a t i o n

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 .

This c o m p l i c a t e s parachute deployment, causes nonsynchronous main

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

A q u a l i t a t i v e s y s t e m a n a l y s i s at the start of the A p o l l o p r o g r a m

d e f i n e d a p a r a c h u t e s y s t e m c o n s i s t i n g of one 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 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.

A s e c o n d d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and a t h i r d m a i n p a r a c h u t e , formed a back-up

r e s e r v e that p e r m i t t e d f a i l u r e of one d r o g u e a n d / o r one m a i n p a r a c h u t e

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

within the r e c o v e r y s y s t e m w e r e to be a v o i d e d to the m a x i m u m p o s s i b l e

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

m u l t i p l e p a r a l l e l and s e r i e s f a i l u r e s . An extensive reliability analysis

w a s p e r f o r m e d that i n c l u d e d m i s s i o n a b o r t , sequencing failures, parachute

and c o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e s , c o m m a n d m o d u l e attitude and 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 , 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

due to lag of a c t i o n , aerodynamic interference between parachutes, etc.

This system reliability a s s e s s m e n t utilized a computerized mathematical

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

c o n t r i b u t e d by a l l c o m p o n e n t s and s u b a s s e m b l i e s to the s y s t e m and a

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

s y s t e m f a i l u r e o c c u r r e d w i t h l e s s than a " s i g n i f i c a n t " probability need

not be c o n s i d e r e d as a d e s i g n c a s e . This probability analysis was applied

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 ?

9
II NORTHROP VENTURA

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 ?

Is it a c t i v e ( r e l a y , o r d n a n c e , etc. ) or passive (structure)?

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

of w h i c h 12 d i f f e r e n t m o d e s w e r e i n v e s t i g a t e d . Similar approaches were

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

approaches, s y s t e m s II and III, i s o b v i o u s .

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

OD 3M >2 5. 000> 2 1. 000 « > 40. r

ID 2M > 2 1. 000 < 2 1. 000 • ~ 40. (

10 3M < 2 1. 0 0 0 < 2 1. 000 < < 40. f

2D 2M <2 5. 000< 2 1. 000 • < 40. C

2D 3M <2 5. 000< 21. 000 < < 40. r

(1) Flight Mode 1: HiRh altitude abort, maximum d

deployment at unfavorable CM a
(2) Stands for no drogue chute. 2 main parachutes
(3) Assumed maximum allowable parachute load
(4) Assumed maximum allowable cluster load

10
II NORTHROP VENTURA

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

The r e s u l t s of this p r o b a b i l i t y a n a l y s i s w e r e then u s e d to e s t a b l i s

g r o u n d r u l e s and d e s i g n c r i t e r i a with e a c h c a s e j o i n t l y a g r e e d upon with

the p r i m e c o n t r a c t o r N o r t h A m e r i c a n R o c k w e l l C o r p o r a t i o n and NASA

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

c r i t e r i a are being applied:

1) All m i s s i o n aborts are operational m o d e s .

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 .

11
II NORTHROP VENTURA

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 .

5) The total p a r a c h u t e landing s y s t e m r e l i a b i l i t y m u s t

be e q u a l to o r b e t t e r than 0 . 9 9 9 9 4 .

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

A n a n a l y s i s of the p a r a c h u t e d e p l o y m e n t e n v e l o p e and of the d e s i g n

c r i t e r i a i n d i c a t e s that the m a x i m u m 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 s i g n l o a d s d o not o c c u r at n o r m a l r e e n t r y but at a b o r t c o n d i t i o n s com-

bined with other failure m o d e 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

following combinations, of e v e n t s , c o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e s and a n o m a l i e s p r o -

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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II NORTHROP VENTURA

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

Two main parachutes

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

M a x i m u m differential reefing cutter time

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 .

T h e s e c o m b i n a t i o n s not only a f f e c t the r e e f e d p a r a c h u t e l o a d but

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

d r o g u e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e s a r e not c a u s e d b y the s a m e c o m b i n a t i o n of

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

among all a g e n c i e s involved. It m a y be m e n t i o n e d h e r e that as s o o n as

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 -

o f - f r e e d o m c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m is desirable for determining maximum

design loads. F i g u r e 7 s h o w s the c a l c u l a t e d p a r a c h u t e l o a d s o c c u r r i n g at

n o r m a l r e e n t r y , the m a x i m u m c a l c u l a t e d " d e s i g n l o a d s " b a s e d on a

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 .

A requirement, new in p a r a c h u t e d e v e l o p m e n t , i s the n e e d f o r

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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II NORTHROP VENTURA

(DESIGN CASE X 1. 35)

• 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

DYNAMIC PRESSURE q - PSF

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

D E V E L O P M E N T AND QUALIFICATION TESTS

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

l o a d s f o r both the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e and the m a i n p a r a c h u t e a r e c a l c u l a t e d

v a l u e s that c a n n o t b e o b t a i n e d in a i r c r a f t d r o p t e s t s with a f r e e falling

Apollo c o m m a n d module test v e h i c l e . Instrumented cylindrical test

v e h i c l e s ( I C T V ) and a p a r a c h u t e t e s t v e h i c l e ( P T V ) that d u p l i c a t e d the

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

substituted. T h e s e test v e h i c l e s b e s i d e s being m o r e e c o n o m i c a l 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

that a l l c o m p o n e n t s and p a r a c h u t e s t a g e s had to d e m o n s t r a t e 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 in v e r t i c a l t e s t s and that c o m p o n e n t f a i l u r e s had

to be d u p l i c a t e d in t e s t s .

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II NORTHROP VENTURA

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

test v e h i c l e . I m p o r t a n t o p e r a t i o n a l m o d e s and s p e c i f i c p o i n t s of the

parachute deployment envelope, s e e F i g u r e 5, w e r e s e l e c t e d as t e s t

conditions.

I C T V ' s and P T Y ' s w e r e d r o p p e d f r o m B - 5 2 and B - 6 6 a i r c r a f t , a

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

t e s t s of d r o g u e and m a i n p a r a c h u t e s at the s a m e t e s t m i s s i o n . An Apollo

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.

F i g u r e 8. Apollo Boilerplate Vehicle Ready for Test

15
II NORTHROP VENTURA

F i g u r e 9. Apollo Boilerplate Vehicle After Test

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

and m u l t i p l e d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s and m a i n p a r a c h u t e s using I C T V ' s and P T V

test v e h i c l e s . U l t i m a t e l o a d s of the f i r s t r e e f e d p a r a c h u t e stage c a n be

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 d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e at the end of the f i r s t r e e f i n g stage a l w a y s a p p r o a c h e s

the s a m e v a l u e i n d e p e n d e n t of the starting p o i n t . This p r o b l e m was solved

b y i n c r e a s i n g the w e i g h t of the t e s t v e h i c l e , by d e c r e a s i n g the length of

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 .

It w a s f o u n d during t h e s e t e s t s that the w a k e of the t e s t v e h i c l e

had a p r o n o u n c e d e f f e c t not only on the d r a g a r e a of the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e

in the w a k e of the f o r e b o d y but s u r p r i s i n g l y a l s o on the d y n a m i c load

16
II NORTHROP VENTURA

factor C . T h i s i s i n d i c a t e d by the data in F i g u r e 10 w h i c h s h o w s f o r

K
v a r i o u s t e s t v e h i c l e s the d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e d r a g a r e a s , the d y n a m i c load

f a c t o r C ^ and t y p i c a l p a r a c h u t e f o r c e t r a c e s . The turbulent w a k e not only

d e c r e a s e s the d r a g a r e a but i n c r e a s e s notably the l o a d f l u c t u a t i o n s and

thus the d y n a m i c l o a d f a c t o r . T h e s e data have to b e taken into a c c o u n t in

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

of 5 p e r c e n t . T h i s r e q u i r e s not only p r o p e r l o a d p r e d i c t i o n m e t h o d s but

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

delays, accurate on-board instrumentation measurements, and a c c u r a t e

m e t e o r o l o g i c a l and r a n g e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n data that c a n be c o o r d i n a t e d with

the o n - b o a r d t e l e m e t r y m e a s u r e m e n t s . It w a s found that the t e c h n o l o g y

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

be p r e d i c t e d , obtained, and e v a l u a t e d with an a c c u r a c y a p p r o a c h i n g 5 p e r -

cent.

Dynamic -

•
F
Factor
CK

0
CDS F
(FT2) <

1
11.9 5. 8
1. 0
1
1
• u F

B/P PTV ICTV

Parachutc Cylindrical
Mo< ule Test Vehicle Test Vehicle
Typical Ijiad Traces

F i g u r e 10. Drogue Parachute Drag A r e a C ^ . S an d Dynamic

Load Factor C for Various Forebodies
K

17
II NORTHROP VENTURA

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

s e c o n d stage r e e f i n g f a i l u r e s as w e l l as o t h e r c o m b i n a t i o n s . All these

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 ,

p r i m a r i l y high v a c u u m , and high t e m p e r a t u r e o r v a c u u m - t e m p e r a t u r e

c y c l i n g would a f f e c t nylon, d a c r o n , elastomers, p y r o t e c h n i c s and m e t a l s .

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

to a v a c u u m of 10 Torr, the v a c u u m s p e c i f i e d f o r the A p o l l o p a r a c h u t e

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

n o r m a l landings. It w a s found that the m a i n p a r a c h u t e t e m p e r a t u r e increased

to 1 4 0 F ° a f t e r a p e x c o v e r e j e c t i o n f r o m the hot a i r f l o w i n g a r o u n d the heat

s h i e l d and s t r e a m i n g along the p a c k e d m a i n p a r a c h u t e s . The r e s u l t a n t

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

b o i l e r p l a t e t e s t v e h i c l e and the s p a c e c r a f t end i t e m p a r a c h u t e system.

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

d e p l o y m e n t altitude and use of e i t h e r two o r one d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e , the

latter m o d e d u p l i c a t i n g a s i n g l e p a r a c h u t e f a i l u r e . Two tests duplicated

high altitude a b o r t s , giving the m a x i m u m d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e at p a r a c h u t e

deployment. Only one d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e w a s u s e d in t h e s e t e s t s in o r d e r

to obtain r e p r e s e n t a t i v e high m a i n p a r a c h u t e l o a d s . Two tests c o v e r e d

low altitude a b o r t s using in one t e s t , t w o d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s with m i n i m u m

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

immediate main parachute deployment, a c o n d i t i o n that r e s u l t e d in a h i g h e r

than l i m i t c a s e d y n a m i c p r e s s u r e at m a i n p a r a c h u t e o p e n i n g . The t w o low

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

with r e p r e s e n t a t i v e C M attitudes and m o t i o n s . All qualification tests w e r e

successful. A t t e m p t s to obtain g o o d p a r a c h u t e l o a d data in q u a l i f i c a t i o n

t e s t s without i n t r o d u c i n g n o n - s p a c e c r a f t type l o a d links w a s not e n t i r e l 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 .

PARACHUTE SYSTEM DETAILS

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

deployment, c o u p l e d with l a r g e c o m m a n d m o d u l e o s c i l l a t i o n s , necessitates

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

o s c i l l a t i o n s c r e a t e the p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t a c t b e t w e e n the p a r a c h u t e risers

and the hot r e a r heat s h i e l d , and last but not l e a s t , the i n c r e a s e in C M

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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

parachute packing, s t o r a g e and shape r e t e n t i o n .

DROGUE P A R A C H U T E M O R T A R ASSEMBLY

The i n s t a l l a t i o n of the two d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e m o r t a r s in one of the

f o u r p a r a c h u t e c o m p a r t m e n t b a y s i s s h o w n in F i g u r e 11. All drogue

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

to the C M by m e a n s of the s o - c a l l e d "flower pot." A s mentioned previously,

s t e e l c a b l e s w e r e s e l e c t e d to a v o i d r i s e r d a m a g e due to c o n t a c t with the

hot heat s h i e l d in c a s e of c o m m a n d m o d u l e o s c i l l a t i o n s . The need f o r

s m a l l s t e e l c a b l e bending r a d i i w a s s o l v e d by using f o u r ply s t e e l c a b l e s

s w a g g e d into c o m m o n f i t t i n g s f o r both the d r o g u e and the m a i n p a r a c h u t e

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

s t r a i n g a g e s a t t a c h e d to the r i s e r s and a r e not p a r t of s p a c e c r a f t e q u i p m e n t .

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 both r i s e r e n d s a r e s e c u r e d and the r i s e r s a r e c o i l e d under t e n s i o n

without twisting the e n d s ; the r i s e r s a r e then c a s t in u r e t h a n e f o a m . Upon

d e p l o y m e n t the light f o a m d i s i n t e g r a t e s and the r i s e r s s t r e t c h without

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

the s t e e l r i s e r s to bend and r o l l o v e r the f l o w e r pot r e s u l t i n g in a b r a s i o n

b e t w e e n the T i t a n i u m f l o w e r pot c o l l a r and the s t e e l c a b l e s . Surrounding

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 ,

s e e F i g u r e 13. A l l m o r t a r s a r e h e r m e t i c a l l y s e a l e d and dual c a r t r i d g e s

requiring symptomatic firing are used.

CARTRIDGE

RESTRICTOR

DROGUE CHUTE
PACK
ASSEMBLY

F i g u r e 12. Drogue Parachute Mortar A s s e m b l y

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F i g u r e 13. Steel Cable P r o t e c t i o n

M O R T A R O R I F I C E DESIGN

The i n c r e a s e in C M w e i g h t and the r e s u l t a n t i n c r e a s e in d r o g u e

p a r a c h u t e s i z e and w e i g h t p r o d u c e d r e a c t i o n f o r c e s upon m o r t a r f i r i n g that

c o u l d not b e t o l e r a t e d by the C M s t r u c t u r e . An eroding hybrid o r i f i c e was

d e v e l o p e d that m a i n t a i n e d the r e q u i r e d m u z z l e v e l o c i t y f o r the h e a v i e r

d r o g u e p a r a c h u t e s without i n c r e a s i n g the r e a c t i o n l o a d s of the m o r e power-

ful c a r t r i d g e s . D e s i g n s of s t a n d a r d and h y b r i d o r i f i c e s and p r e s s u r e

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

s h o w n in the u p p e r l e f t hand c o r n e r of F i g u r e 14 p r o d u c e the t y p i c a l

p r e s s u r e - t i m e c u r v e as s e e n in the r i g h t hand d i a g r a m . The e r o d i n g

o r i f i c e has b r a s s and a l u m i n u m i n s e r t s w h i c h b u r n away p r o g r e s s i v e l y and

a l l o w m o r e g a s to e n t e r the m o r t a r t u b e . The a l u m i n u m i n s e r t k e e p s the

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

r e a s o n a b l y c o n s t a n t m o r t a r tube p r e s s u r e and m a i n t a i n s the m o r t a r reac-

tion loads within allowable l i m i t s .

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II NORTHROP VENTURA

HYBRID ORIFICE
STANDARD (FIXED)
ORIFICE
- IDEAL TUBE
a PRESSURE CURVE

STANDARD ORIFICE HYBRID ORIFICE

TVPICAll MOH'i'AR
PRESSURE CURVES VS.
fME

ORIFICE BEFORE AND AFTER U.SE

F i g u r e 14. Mortar Orifice Details

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

used a reefed parachute. The i n c r e a s e in C M w e i g h t without an e q u i v a l e n t

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

m a n d a t o r y f o r the t h r e e m a i n p a r a c h u t e s . An additional c o m p l i c a t i o n was

i n t r o d u c e d by the r e q u i r e m e n t that the r e e f e d m a i n p a r a c h u t e s had to be

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

d e s i g n of the m a i n p a r a c h u t e r e e f i n g s y s t e m a r e shown in F i g u r e 15. Two

r e e f i n g l i n e s a r e u s e d f o r the f i r s t s t a g e , with e a c h line having its individual

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

w i l l not d i s r e e f the p a r a c h u t e ; s e p a r a t i o n of both l i n e s i s r e q u i r e d to d i s -

r e e f the p a r a c h u t e to the s e c o n d s t a g e . The s e c o n d stage has only one

r e e f i n g line with two c u t t e r s . A n a l y s i s and t e s t s have p r o v e n that p r e m a t u r e

r u p t u r e of the s e c o n d s t a g e r e e f i n g line w i l l not r e s u l t in d e s t r u c t i o n of the

parachute.

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F i g u r e 15. Main Parachute Reefing

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

a t t a c h e d to the c a n o p y r a d i a l s . Dual r e e f i n g r i n g s , c a l l e d " S i a m e s e Rings"

w e r e d e v e l o p e d with both f i r s t stage l i n e s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h the s a m e ring

opening. The s l a c k p a r t of the s e c o n d stage r e e f i n g line is g a t h e r e d with

a d r a w s t r i n g of the s a m e length as the f i r s t stage l i n e ; this d r a w s t r i n g

a p p r o a c h a v o i d s the p r o b l e m s of stowing and s e c u r i n g the s e c o n d stage l i n e .

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

s e g m e n t and m u s t m a i n t a i n t h e i r highly c o m p r e s s e d f o r m throughout s t o r a g e

and m i s s i o n in o r d e r to a s s u r e a s p e c i f i c gap b e t w e e n the a p e x c o v e r and

the p a c k e d p a r a c h u t e n e c e s s a r y f o r heat p r o t e c t i o n during and a f t e r r e e n t r y .

D u r i n g the d e v e l o p m e n t c y c l e the h a r d p a c k e d m a i n p a r a c h u t e s experienced

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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

b y c o m b i n e d p r e s s u r e and v a c u u m p a c k i n g and s t o r a g e of the bag in a

wooden compartment f o r m e r . V a c u u m s e a l i n g i s m a i n t a i n e d with t w o

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

T h e r e t e n t i o n s y s t e m c o n n e c t s d i r e c t l y to the d e p l o y m e n t bag without

intermittent flaps. T h e d e p l o y m e n t bag i t s e l f i n c o r p o r a t e s s e v e r a l l a y e r s

of d a c r o n felt f o r heat p r o t e c t i o n .

F i g u r e 16. Main Parachute Retention System

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

i n t o the c o n i c a l s h a p e d b a g s a r e shown in F i g u r e 17. The p a r a c h u t e , in

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

F i g u r e 17. Parachute Packing Presses

F i g u r e 18. Main Parachute Vacuum Storage

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II NORTHROP VENTURA

CONCLUSIONS

The A p o l l o P a r a c h u t e S y s t e m i s c a p a b l e of s a f e l y landing the A p o l l o

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 .

The a b i l i t y to c o p e with a l l c o n c e i v a b l e e m e r g e n c i e s , full s y s t e m r e d u 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

e q u i v a l e n t to l e s s than 3 g ' s a r e outstanding c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of the A p o l l o

P a r a c h u t e Landing S y s t e m . The b a s i c d e s i g n p r o v e d f l e x i b l e enough to

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

changing parachute v o l u m e or load r e q u i r e m e n t s . A s y s t e m s and r e l i a b i l i t y

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

d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e d the j o i n t e n g i n e e r i n g e f f o r t s and s k i l l s of 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 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

requirements. A m a j o r d i f f i c u l t y in d e s i g n and d e v e l o p m e n t w a s the l a c k

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 ,

l o a d s and s t r e s s e s of the a e r o d y n a m i c d e c e l e r a t o r s and the c o m b i n e d

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

of future s p a c e c r a f t landing systems.

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 landing s y s t e m , the b r o a d e n g i n e e r i n g s p e c t r u m and the o u t -

standing r e l i a b i l i t y a p p r o a c h r e q u i r e d f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t of this m a n - r a t e d

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 .

27