SpaceX has recently expanded its in-house capabilities by acquiring parachute vendor Pioneer Aerospace.
The acquisition, valued at $2.2 million, was facilitated following the bankruptcy of Pioneer’s parent company, as reported first by The Information. This marks SpaceX’s second significant acquisition after integrating small satellite startup Swarm in 2021.
Pioneer Aerospace has been a crucial supplier for SpaceX, providing the drogue parachutes for the Dragon capsules. These capsules, employed by NASA for transporting cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station, rely on drogue chutes for stability and deceleration during reentry, deploying at approximately 18,000 feet at speeds around 350 miles per hour.
SpaceX sources the main parachutes for the Dragon from Airborne Systems.
The acquisition of Pioneer Aerospace is a strategic move for SpaceX, ensuring the continuation of essential components for its spacecraft. Abhi Tripathi, director of mission operations at UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory, emphasized the complexity of creating parachutes capable of withstanding high-speed conditions. With a career spanning both SpaceX and NASA, Tripathi acknowledges the challenges in parachute design and manufacturing, reports TechCrunch.
SpaceX’s decision to insource the production of these components is a reflection of its commitment to reliability and schedule adherence. CEO Elon Musk’s approach to outsourcing, as recounted by Tripathi, hinges on the competence and reliability of suppliers. The company’s active involvement in the engineering and testing of the drogue parachutes underscores its careful approach to every aspect of its space missions.
