Methods and systems for turning an envelope into a parachute

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for turning an envelope of a balloon into a parachute. The balloon may include a payload, an envelope filled with a lift gas, and a parachute system. The parachute system may include a fuse couple to the envelope. The parachute system may also include an activation system coupled to the fuse. The activation system may be configured to ignite the fuse. The fuse may be ignitable to melt through at least a portion of the envelope to separate an upper portion of the envelope from a lower portion of the envelope. The upper portion of the envelope may be coupled to the payload such that when separated from the lower portion, the upper portion performs as a parachute for the payload.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.