APOLLO 16 Mission. Holes in Canopy of Main Parachute

摘要

The occurrence of an anomaly during the Apollo 16 flight is discussed. The canopy of one of the recovered main parachutes had numerous small burn holes. An analysis of events following main parachute deployment which could cause the anomaly is presented. It is concluded that the burn holes in the parachute were the result of oxidizer being expelled when the plus-yaw engines were fired as the spacecraft was in the final phase of descent. (Author)