Pioneer - Aerodynamic Deceleration Systems

Pioneer Aerospace is a world leader in the design and manufacture of state-of-the-art aerodynamic deceleration systems. These systems support specialized tactical, personnel, cargo, humanitarian, weapons and space exploration programs, and are in use all over the globe.

Pioneer’s success is founded on over 65 years of parachute development and manufacturing experience. Pioneer’s headquarters is located in South Windsor, CT; along with a manufacturing facility in Columbia, MS; a field/test office in Yuma, AZ, and Airlift Technologies, a Division of Pioneer, located in Milton, FL. Our diverse programs and products include the following:

MARS EXPLORATION DECELERATION SYSTEM

In June and July of 2003, NASA launched the latest in Mars exploration vehicles, Opportunity and Spirit. A mortar-deployed, Disk-Gap-Band (DGB) parachute slowed the crafts from supersonic entry conditions, and the parachute deceleration system then stabilized the spacecrafts for optimal retro-rocket firing.

Pioneer, under contract to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), used design experience from the Mars Polar Lander, Mars 2001, and the wildly successful Mars Pathfinder programs to develop a system for a larger payload without large increases in weight or volume.

BALLISTIC AERIAL DELIVERY AND SOFT-LANDING SYSTEM (BADASS)

The 30klb Ballistic Aerial Delivery And Soft-Landing System (BADASS) is a Pioneer-developed recovery system that delivers heavy cargo from high-altitude using a cluster of high-speed drogue parachutes followed by a cluster of main parachutes to provide a soft landing.

Upon touchdown, an M-2 parachute ground-disconnect releases the recovery parachutes from the payload to facilitate de-rigging and operational utility. Demonstration tests from 24,500ft (MSL) with 30,000lbs of payload have been successfully performed with noted times from extraction to landing of ~300 seconds and target miss distances of less than 390m.

PRECISION AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION FOR TACTICAL HIGH OFFSET OR EMERGENCY RE-SUPPLY (PANTHER)

The Panther guidance and delivery system provides accurate delivery to a selected landing point via GPS navigation with minimal input (enter waypoint and landing coordinates).

Panther can be easily adapted to any size parafoil or payload. Two guidance sizes are currently available, the -500 (A7 container) and the -2500 (A22 container). Landing accuracy is within 100ft (-500), and within 500ft using the (-2500) system; the additional capability of flared-soft landings for delicate or instrumental cargo is available. Ground unit control system is laptop-based, and offers real-time horizontal, vertical, and 3D displays.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CREW RETURN VEHICLE

One of Pioneer's recent major engineering development programs was the recovery system for the 25,000lb NASA X-38 - the test vehicle for the now-cancelled International Space Station Crew Return Vehicle. This unpowered lifting body was designed to safely return up to seven ill or injured astronauts from the space station. 

Based on Pioneer's GPADS technology, the X-38 recovery system employed a 7,500ft² (700m²) ram-air inflated parafoil, the largest parafoil in the world, controlled by an on-board guidance system. Using GPS satellite signals, the X-38 has flown autonomously to a flared touchdown on land with vertical velocities as little as 10ft per second and within 300ft of the intended target.

TROOP PARACHUTES

Pioneer produces the T-10 series (T-10B, T-10C, T-10D) and MC1 (MC1-1B, MC1-1C, MC1-1D, MC1-1E) series troop parachutes.

The T-10 nonsteerable troop assault parachute assemblies and the MC1 steerable troop assault parachute assemblies are used during static line airborne operations, and have been used for several decades as the primary means of combat troop deployment.

They are suitable for airdropping personnel from as low as 500ft; and their safety and reliability have been proven through millions of jumps.

All parachutes are produced to strict quality guidelines in accordance with the latest applicable US Army and Parachute Industry Association (PIA) specifications.

WEAPONS SYSTEMS

The BAT, produced by Northrop Grumman, is an acoustic and Infrared (IR) guided submunition that autonomously searches for, tracks and defeats armored and critical mobile targets.

The BAT is a propulsionless, aerodynamically controlled vehicle (glider). The BAT is delivered to the target vicinity by the Army Tactical Missile System (Army TACMS), which is launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

Pioneer supplies the main components of the deceleration and stabilization subsystem including: the Gas Inflated Ram Air Stabilizer (GIRAS), the primary and secondary parachutes assemblies as well as their deployment and release mechanisms.