A multi-staged suspension line length parachute may include a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length. The primary length may be deployable upon a first deployment of the multi-staged suspension line length parachute. The secondary length may be prevented from deployment until the primary length has fully deployed. An attenuator may attach a first portion of the secondary length to a second portion of the secondary length.

A multi-staged suspension line length parachute may include a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length. The primary length may be deployable upon a first deployment of the multi-staged suspension line length parachute. The secondary length may be prevented from deployment until the primary length has fully deployed. An attenuator may attach a first portion of the secondary length to a second portion of the secondary length.

A multi-staged suspension line length parachute may include a suspension line having a primary length and a secondary length. The primary length may be deployable upon a first deployment of the multi-staged suspension line length parachute. The secondary length may be prevented from deployment until the primary length has fully deployed. An attenuator may attach a first portion of the secondary length to a second portion of the secondary length.

An aerodynamic braking device for a payload casing intended to be ejected from a projectile on its trajectory including at least one parachute connected to the casing by hangers, the parachute and the parachute hangers being housed in a sleeve. The sleeve is wound around an axis of winding perpendicular to its longitudinal direction and attached to a cylindrical housing the axis of which is parallel to the axis of winding, which housing is itself secured to a shell base that closes off the projectile, the hangers being connected to the casing by an extension cable which is wound around the axis of the housing and attached thereto by at least three peripheral break lines which are uniformly angularly distributed.

An aerodynamic braking device for a payload casing intended to be ejected from a projectile on its trajectory including at least one parachute connected to the casing by hangers, the parachute and the parachute hangers being housed in a sleeve. The sleeve is wound around an axis of winding perpendicular to its longitudinal direction and attached to a cylindrical housing the axis of which is parallel to the axis of winding, which housing is itself secured to a shell base that closes off the projectile, the hangers being connected to the casing by an extension cable which is wound around the axis of the housing and attached thereto by at least three peripheral break lines which are uniformly angularly distributed.

A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise flexible members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are deformed, storing elastic energy. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members spring back to their undeformed shapes, thereby opening or assisting with opening the canopy. The flexible member may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes that can be flexed using a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate, so that the ends connected to the canopy are restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle

A parafoil for operation at high altitudes, in low density air, or at low airspeeds, and methods for opening same. Some versions of the parafoil comprise flexible members connected to the parafoil canopy. When the parafoil canopy is in a stowed configuration, the members are deformed, storing elastic energy. When the canopy is released from its stowed configuration, the members spring back to their undeformed shapes, thereby opening or assisting with opening the canopy. The flexible member may also be attached to a base structure, which is attached to the payload. The members may comprise rods or hollow tubes that can be flexed using a fulcrum near the base structure, or a spacer plate, so that the ends connected to the canopy are restrained by a parachute bag containing the stowed or packed canopy. The parachute bag can be opened prior to or during detachment of the parafoil from the flight vehicle

The present disclosure describes a signal relay node that is physically displaceable by a delivery system to move the signal relay node to a different location, to enable the signal relay node to overcome physical obstructions to signal propagation. A delivery system, such as a launching system, can launch the signal relay node encased within a housing unit, such as a projectile cap. Upon launch into the air, an additional aloft package may provide an aerostat, parachute, and/or a propeller and motor system to keep the signal relay node aloft in the air for a longer period of time.

The present disclosure describes a signal relay node that is physically displaceable by a delivery system to move the signal relay node to a different location, to enable the signal relay node to overcome physical obstructions to signal propagation. A delivery system, such as a launching system, can launch the signal relay node encased within a housing unit, such as a projectile cap. Upon launch into the air, an additional aloft package may provide an aerostat, parachute, and/or a propeller and motor system to keep the signal relay node aloft in the air for a longer period of time.

A method and apparatus for facilitating folding and packing of a parachute into a deployment bag is a planar, semi-rigid, horizontally oriented rectangular fabric panel that is seamed or scored to fold at four or more junctures.