Net engagement with parachute slowdown (NEPS) system

A momentum altering system comprising:

• a transportation device configured to transport the momentum altering system from an aircraft towards an object moving through water, wherein the transportation device includes a parafoil;
• an engagement device configured to attach to the object when the momentum altering system is transported sufficiently near the object, wherein the engagement device comprises a load bearing line in communication with one or more self-tensioning loops, the one or more self-tensioning loops in communication with a base net based on a tensegrity structure with a lasso, the self-tensioning loops distorting the base net to increase a contact area between the base net and the object upon contact of a portion of the base net with the object;
• and
• at least one decelerating device connected to the engagement device, the at least one decelerating device deployed by the engagement device after the engagement device attaches to the object, wherein deploying the at least one decelerating device includes deploying a plurality of parachute sea anchors (PSAs) at a preset time by a programmable time release unit (PTRU) that includes an electronic timer, each of the plurality of PSAs being deployed with temporal separation from another of the plurality of PSAs sufficient to alter the momentum of the object within a load limit of each of the plurality of PSAs, wherein each of the plurality of PSAs produces drag against a progressively larger volume of water than a previously deployed PSA of the same deceleration device.