Orion will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of 20,000 miles per hour! To ensure a safe splash down, the spacecraft will use a parachute system after initial air friction to slow down to a comfortable 20 miles per hour.
Test your own parachute design skills with this tissue paper parachute activity. You will use tissue paper, tape and string to create a parachute and then test its strength based on how many paper clips it can carry. If you have already made a paper cup spacecraft in one of our other activities, you can attach your parachutes and discover howmany it takes to gently land your spacecraft.
Materials (per guest)
• Tissue paper or paper napkin
• String or yarn
• Masking tape
• Paper clips
• Circle stickers
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Location to drop parachutes
Directions
1. Place a 12”x12” square tissue paper or napkin flat on your workspace.
2. Cut string into four pieces of equal length, about 12 inches each.
3. Attach one string or piece of yarn to each corner of the tissue using 1” pieces of masking tape or circle stickers.
4. Attach your re-entry vehicle:
a. (optional) Paper cup spacecraft:
b. Paper clips:
Use masking tape or circle stickers to attachparachute strings to the spacecraft.
Attach paper clips to string or yarn.
Download printable instructions