Ares 1-X Launch Parachute Failure

Two days after NASA launched a test model of its Ares 1 rocket, the flight's mission manager confirmed the first stage descended to the Atlantic Ocean on just one fully functioning parachute, damaging the booster as it splashed into the Atlantic Ocean harder than expected.

All three main parachutes initially unfurled to a partially deployed, or reefing, position as planned. But one chute subsequently deflated and another developed difficulty going to a fully deployed position.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Ares
• Ares 1-X
• NASA
• Spaceflight
• Launch

[GSMSfromFV]

Is this actual video footage or gaphics? To me, it looks like graphics, but very hard to tell.

[basvg1]

It's actual video footage, which I've edited.

[joachim2464]

@GSMSfromFV it is actual footage

[oomblikkies]

wow - I can not believe this. More than 50 years ago NASA was landing Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules one after the other without any parachute problems whatsoever and today, with all their new technologies, they struggle to do this.

[verminosity]

@knoll99 - I can tell you're not an engineer. Yes, I can see the straps failed. Let me rephrase my Q. What is the ultimate reason the straps failed? Load miscalculation? Physical defect (chafing) ? Undetermined?

[knoll99]

@verminosity

Watch the related ""Ares X-1 High Speed Onboard Video...." also on Youtube.

You can clearly see the straps fail on the first chute right where they attach to the booster. Then the straps start whipping around and interferring wit the second parachute.

[verminosity]

What was the ultimate reason the parachutes failed? Design miscalculation?

[zx6rtt]

minor fender bender

[exalotyle]

its the real deal, they have missile tracking systems loaded with super high speed cameras to follow it all.