So those uh... parachutes pretty fast huh?

[power5000]

I had this happen and thought it was worthy of post xD

I was landing a probe and had two of these attached and the g's blew them off with INCREDIBLE speed xD

Edited October 22, 2013 by power5000

[RuBisCO]

They really need to redesign how parachutes work, in the game they produce a fix amount of drag per velocity, but not air pressure, so say when landing on Duna and going several hundred m/s when they open can lead to catastrophic deceleration.

[numerobis]

They really need to redesign how parachutes work, in the game they produce a fix amount of drag per velocity, but not air pressure, so say when landing on Duna and going several hundred m/s when they open can lead to catastrophic deceleration.

You might want to look into drogues. That, or add some more struts.

Parachutes definitely take account of air density; not sure what you mean about that.

[spikeyhat09]

i think they should open within a certain amount of air pressure, universal on all planets, rather than simply at 500 m hard n flat

[jaredkzr]

The only problem I have with parachutes is phy-warping while waiting for the main 'chutes to deploy. 99% of the time, it will simply blow up the craft. Just make sure you don't use any type of time warp while deploying parachutes.

[numerobis]

i think they should open within a certain amount of air pressure, universal on all planets, rather than simply at 500 m hard n flat

Parachutes fully deploy at a fixed altitude by design; use drogues or retrorockets to slow down more beforehand, or make your spacecraft stronger.

Parachutes do semi-deploy based on pressure, so you won't be spun right round when they fully deploy.

[Specialist290]

Parachutes fully deploy at a fixed altitude by design; use drogues or retrorockets to slow down more beforehand, or make your spacecraft stronger.

From what reading I've done, that's also how they can be made to work in real life as well. They're kept reefed by means of a mechanism that keeps the skirt drawn tightly together, much like a drawstring on a bag. At a predetermined command, this mechanism can be released, effectively "cutting the string" and allowing the air to fully open the chute.

[Vonar]

Curiosity hit 9-gees when deploying the parachute on Mars, and even that wasn't enough to completely slow the spacecraft down from traveling at interplanetary speeds. It was still falling at something like 1,000 mph after the main parachute had deployed and was cut loose. I like the way that ksp handles parachutes in the game, the only thing that I don't like about them is the inability to 'stack' anything on top of them - for example another parachute that is meant to be cut away prior to the opening of the main parachutes, or for that matter a docking port.

It would be nice to have a number of pre-set parachute controls that can be changed depending on the type of parachute and planet however. For example the ability to manually edit the parachute's default opening altitude while in flight.

[lazarus1024]

I do wish that KSP allowed you to set a value for when the parachutes deploy complete. Either in the VAB, allow you to set an action key or else just have a single stack deployment have them extend and a second open the chute.

Beyond that, please allow radial drouge chutes SQUAD!!!

[Brofessional]

In addition to stock radial drogues I'd like to see a small-scale stack drogue to match the Mk16 parachute. A stack parachute that deploys chutes from the sides allowing you to put docking ports/etc. on top of it would be nice, but might make things a little too easy.

The parachutes definitely need some love though, I don't think they've changed since 0.8, except for the cut/repack option. Even the model for the Mk16 is still the same.

[borisvolodnikov]

Beyond that, please allow radial drouge chutes SQUAD!!!

Agree with this generally (MOAR OPTIONS = BETTER), but you could achieve the same thing by using the top drogue and then using the radial mains.

[sanoj688]

except for the cut/repack option.

Wait, what? I haven't seen a repack option yet but I assume you can use that to repack used chutes after landing?

[numerobis]

Beyond that, please allow radial drogue chutes SQUAD!!!

Put a drogue on a cube strut, then add a couple of spacetape struts on to hold them tight. Bingo, a radial drogue.

[phunk]

Wait, what? I haven't seen a repack option yet but I assume you can use that to repack used chutes after landing?

You can only see the option after landing, and only while a kerbal is standing next to it.

[nimbim]

I'm pretty sure parachutes will become a priority once a new aerodynamic model has been implemented, until then I don't see a problem with the current ones.

[lazarus1024]

Agree with this generally (MOAR OPTIONS = BETTER), but you could achieve the same thing by using the top drogue and then using the radial mains.

Some of my designs don't allow any top chute is part of why I'd like drogue radial chutes.

While we are at it, chutes (drogue and regular) to match probe bodies would also be nice.

[Sirrobert]

Wait, what? I haven't seen a repack option yet but I assume you can use that to repack used chutes after landing?

It can only be done by a Kerbal right next to it.

If you would accedently release the chute during accent and cut it, you can EVA in space to repack it (if I remember correctly)

[Aragosnat]

You my friend might want to use this: Parachute Calculator as well as use rockets to slow down to more reasonable speeds. Also have you tried aerobraking? You can bite deep into Duna before needing to deploy chutes most of the time.

[aNewHope]

Beyond that, please allow radial drogue chutes SQUAD!!!

Someone released this part in a mod. It's simply the radial chute, with drogue values and orange stripes.

I don't know where this mod is but given some site to upload I could share the part (have it in my ksp folder).

[numerobis]

Put a drogue on a cube strut, then add a couple of spacetape struts on to hold them tight. Bingo, a radial drogue.

Seems people missed this. Maybe a picture helps?

[Baconluver25]

Seems people missed this. Maybe a picture helps?

The problem is that isn't very cosmetically appealing. Atleast for me...

[kalor]

Seems people missed this. Maybe a picture helps?

Command pod... now with headphones

[aNewHope]

Found the mod !

On page 2 of this thread there is a radial mounted drogue chute linked!

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/28063-Radial-Drogue-Parachute?highlight=drogue

Have fun!

Edit:

I know it is not my creation, but this is the link to the download:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32080904/ParachuteRadial_Drogue.7z

Edited October 23, 2013 by aNewHope

[numerobis]

Command pod... now with headphones

Looks more like Mickey Mouse ears to me.

You can click on the drogue and push it in to cover the cube; then it looks pretty natural. Radial drogues will presumably come stock at some point, but in the meantime, you can build your own.