China has tested a parachute system that can help guide fallen rocket boosters into targeted areas. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology developed the system, which was used on a Long March-3B rocket carrying a BeiDou navigation satellite into orbit on May 17 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. The parachute brought down the rocket boosters to a predetermined location, narrowing the range of the landing area by 80%. The system can automatically open its parafoil at a certain height of descent, guiding the boosters back to an estimated landing area. Most of China’s major launch sites are deep inland, meaning preventing fallen rocket parts from landing unpredictably, especially in areas with human activities, has become an urgent task for scientists.
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