Parachutes
The process of making the parachutes is described in the following steps:
- testing the optimal material and shape of parachutes (plastic trash bag, cotton, sewed plastic),
- calculate and estimate the weight of the load,
- making an appropriate stencil for the parachute gores,
- the calculations from the following web pages can be used:
http://www.ict.griffith.edu.au/anthony/kites/parafauna/chute_design/
http://www.pcprg.com/rocketre.htm - the plastic trash bag parachute with the diameter 1,5 m:
- 8 large trash bags (one for each gore),
- making a stencil,
- binding gores together by using the stencil, a sewing machine or duct tape,
- attaching 8 strings, each 2,5 m long, on each gore,
- making a hole at the top of the parachute (it helps open the parachute faster and stabilize the parachute during the fall).