Unflown parachute section from an Aerobee sounding rocket. Many payloads equired physical retrieval to be scientifically useful, and some were expensive enough to warrant trying to use them more than once, so parachute systems were developed starting in the 1940s to return payloads gently to Earth. They became reliable only in the 1950s. This artifact is part of a collection from the Naval Research Laboratory (see Catalogue numbers 19880001000-19880017000).
Transferred from NRL to the Museum in 1987.
Display Status
This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
EQUIPMENT-Parachutes
Designer
Charles Johnson
Manufacturer
Pioneer Parachute Co., Inc.
Dimensions
Other: 10 in. diameter x 10 in. tall (25.4 x 25.4cm)
Materials
Nylon
Inventory Number
A19880021000
Credit Line
Transferred from the Naval Research Laboratory
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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