Parachute, Main, Apollo 16

This parachute is one of the three main parachutes deployed to safely "land" the Apollo 16 command module after its successful April 1972 lunar mission. The parachute system selected for the Apollo command module consisted of two ribbon drogue parachutes, which accomplish initial deceleration and stabilization. After disconnect the two drogue parachutes are followed by three pilot parachute, which in turn extract three ringsail main parachutes (only two of which would provide the rate of descent necessary for a safe water landing).

NASA transferred this parachute to the Museum in 1974.