Flight Testing the Parachute System for the Space Station Crew Return Vehicle

Abstract

NASA has developed and tested a large parafoil for use in landing the International Space Station crew return vehicle. A series of tests using low-velocity airdrop pallets and prototype lifting bodies flights has demonstrated that the parafoil recovery system is a viable option for safely landing a crewed vehicle. The aerodynamic characteristics of the parafoil system have been determined through a series of flight-test maneuvers and subsequently successfully modeled using an eight-degree-of-freedom simulation program. An introduction to the requirements for the crew return vehicle, a description of the parafoil system, an overview of the testing performed including several significant findings, a description of the techniques used to assess the aerodynamic performance of the parafoil system, and a discussion of the simulation of the parafoil system are presented