Make: Rockets

Chapter 19. Helicopter Recovery

Have you ever watched a maple seed drop from a tree and twist slowly to the ground? It’s nature’s version of helicopter recovery. By deflecting the air to create spin, the seed slows its fall. In the case of the maple tree, this keeps the seed in the air longer so the wind can carry it farther from the parent tree. In the case of a rocket, helicopter recovery gives us a showy way to slow the descent of a rocket. Helicopter recovery is a constant draw at any launch.

Figure 19-1. Nature’s expert at helicopter recovery, the maple tree spreads its seeds by keeping them in the air longer so the wind can move them farther ...