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| The British Amateur Space / Rocket Programme |
| ASPIRE II Recovery System |
The steerable parachute is ejected post apogee at high altitude
where the atmosphere is minimal. It is then allowed to settle down as
the vehicle speeds up and the Q increases. NO shock loads. Just a
steadily increasing load up to max parachute deployed reentry Q.
Stratospheric shear layers have to be guarded against. The method
AspireSpace use is a step function to calcuate the conditions, enabling
a good safety margin. Studies and calculations are currently being
carried out into the bending stresses about the Centre of Gravity.
The steerable parachute recovery system is progressing well, with
flight tests having been carried out on the main parachute, at
altitudes of up to 200 metres. The onboard CCD video camera for virtual
piloting of the recovery system, performed flawlessly, transmitting
live images to the ground station, which were then archived on video
for detailed examination. Flight tests have been carried out in 1994, 1995 and 1996. More tests are planned for the next few years.
An AspireSpace Steerable parachute undergoing testing
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