The Effects of Parachute System Mass and Suspension-Line Elastic Properties on the LADT #3 Viking Parachute Inflation Load

Analytical calculations have considered the effects of 1) varying parachute system mass, 2) suspension-line damping, and 3) alternate suspension-line force-elongation data on the canopy force history. Results indicate the canopy force on the LADT #3 parachute did not substantially exceed the recorded vehicle force reading and that the above factors can have significant effects on the canopy force history.