The reefing technology consists of actively controlling the opening of the parachute. In the case of the Matterhorn Rocket, such a technology permits to directly deploy the main parachute at apogee but only fully inflate at low altitude. This way, with a single parachute, a high descent rate is maintained from 3’000m to 300m altitude while a soft landing is ensured once fully deployed below 300m. After learning the certified sewing techniques from paratroopers, the team manufactured its own parachute and went through an extensive test campaign to validate the system.
Collaboration and Timeline
- with: EPFL Rocket Team
- date: 2018
- duration 1 year
Technical skills:
- Reefing simulation
- Textile manufacturing
- Testing
