DEVELOPMENT OF BALLUTE FOR RETARDATION OF ARCAS ROCKETSONDES

Abstract

A BALLUTE(a) retardation system for Arcas rocketlaunched meteorlogical instruments was investigated. Various BALLUTE configurations were fabricated, tested, and evaluated in four stages: airdock drop tests; low- altitude helicopter drop tests; high-altitude balloonborne drop tests; and rocket-launched flight tests at Cape Kennedy. The program culminated in three successful rocket-launched flights of the final configuration which, because of the high stability of the system, yielded telemetered temperature data of unprecedented quality. The BALLUTE system that meets the design goals of reliability, stability, descent rate, and cost will be made of fractional mil plastic film, will be about 16-1/2 ft in diameter, and will weigh about two pounds. Further development and system qualification testing are recommended prior to incorporation of the BALLUTE into the operational sounding system.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0625785

Entities

People

  • J. J. Graham Jr.

Organizations

  • Goodyear Aerospace

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Cameras
  • Diameters
  • Drop Tests
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Films
  • Geometry
  • High Altitude
  • Low Altitude
  • Materials
  • Reliability
  • Structural Analysis
  • Systems Analysis
  • Tensile Strength

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Software Engineering