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It sounds like the old-style parachute is not the best solution for this problem, but I'm sure they must have come up with other ideas and ruled them out. Why not hundreds of small parachutes? Why not wings or rotors to stabilize it? I'm curious to know.

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Anything non-fabric would weigh too much. Many smaller parachutes means many more lines, which would weigh too much.

The rocket equation is cruel.

Smaller parachutes would be larger surface area compared to one large chute also, right? More weight there.

Parachutes were supposed to be easy because they have plenty of heritage and other users. And in spite of the problems they likely still are easier. Any other system would need even more testing.

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