Pioneer Aerospace Corporation

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Pioneer Aerospace Corporation is an aerodynamic deceleration manufacturers.

Pioneer has designed and manufactured parachutes and parafoils for numerous NASA missions.

History[]

Pioneer Aerospace Corporation began production in 1938. In 1988, Pioneer become a part of Zodiac's Aerosafety Systems Group.[1] Pioneer's main factory and distribution centers are located in Columbia, Mississippi[2] and Bloomfield, Connecticut.[3] On December 1st, 2018 Safran acquired Zodiac Aerospace as Safran Aerosystems.[4] The company is one of the largest aerodynamic deceleration manufacturers in the world.[5][6]

NASA[]

Pioneer Aerospace Corporation has designed and manufactured recovery systems for numerous NASA missions, including: the Galileo probe, the Space Shuttle, the Mars Pathfinder missions, the Genesis solar-sample mission, the Stardust Comet Intercept Probe, and the Mars Exploration Rovers.[7] In 1999, Pioneer manufactured, at the time, the world's largest parafoil (7,500 square ft.) for the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle, an emergency return capsule for the crew of the International Space Station.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ [1]| Pioneer Aerospace (now defunct corporate website), Company History
  2. ^ [2]| Bed & Breakfast Association of Mississippi (website); Visit Mississippi One Porch at a Time
  3. ^ [3]| Safran Aerosystems (corporate website), Contact Us
  4. ^ [4] Safran shareholders meeting approves the merger of Zodiac Aerospace into Safran with 99.88% voting in favor
  5. ^ [5]| Mississippi Group Tour Escort Manual (pdf)
  6. ^ [6]| Pioneer Aerospace (corporate website), Home
  7. ^ [7]| Mississippi Group Tour Escort Manual (pdf)
  8. ^ [8]| Bed & Breakfast Association of Mississippi (website); Visit Mississippi One Porch at a Time
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