Drogue parachute

A drogue parachute is a type of parachute designed to be deployed from a rapidly moving object. It is often used to gain control of very fast descents, including those of spacecrafts during reentry. A drogue parachute is enlongated and far thinner than a normal parachute, thus provides less drag. This means that the drogue parachute cannot slow an object as much as a normal parachute, but it can be deployed at speeds where a normal parachute would be torn apart. Also, the drogue parachute's simpler design allows for easier deployment. Where a normal parachute could get caught in itself while unfolding and fail to inflate (thus not slowing the falling object as much as it should), the drogue parachute will inflate more easily, generating the full amount of drag expected.

Drogue parachutes are sometimes used to deploy a main parachute, by using the drag generated by the drogue to pull the main parachute out of its capsule. The most familiar drogue parachute is the one used in this manner in skydiving. Such a drogue is often referred to as a pilot 'chute .