Flight behavior of a mortar launched, parachute deployed imaging system is examined with particular attention to characterizing the quantity and quality of recorded image data. Coverage area of the imager, blur due to motion of the imager, and view time are evaluated for different system configurations allowing important design parameters to be identified. It is shown that proper tailoring of the dynamic characteristics of the system greatly improves gathered image data quantity and quality. Coning of the canister is an important system characteristic that largely drives total ground coverage. Canister coning is influenced in a complex manner by system geometric parameters. Mounting the parachute riser to the canister in such a way that the connection is off the axis of symmetry of the canister is a powerful technique to increase coning of the canister. Likewise, increasing riser length also yields increased coning. Increasing spin rate of the canister leads to a proportional increase in image blur, which is largest toward the edge of the image. Also, increased canister weight tends to increase the descent rate, which reduces total view time. At the same time, increased descent rate increases the spin rate for cross type parachutes, leading to increased image blur.
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