Parafoil test vehicle ALEX - Further development and flight test results

摘要

The Institute of Flight Mechanics of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) developed the low-cost technology demonstrator ALEX (Small Autonomous Parafoil Landing Experiment) to investigate GNC concepts for the autonomous landing of space capsules. ^The presently finished Phase 2 was dedicated to the full instrumentation of the vehicle to enable autonomous flights in the third phase in 1999. ^This paper provides details about the components used and discusses recent experience and flight test results. ^(Author)