The Universal Parachute System or UniChute for short is a system I developed for attaching parachutes to rockets in a way that allows for easy removal and replacement of parachutes and similar recovery devices (such as streamers) in mono-deployment (dual-deployment is still in the works) rockets. This means it is easy to test out different sized parachutes on the same rocket, no untying required! If the parachute is damaged this can also make replacement easy. I developed this system first on NC-IV Ascention and have applied it to most of my rockets since.
Instead of wrapping the parachute lines directly around the nosecone eyelet, bind them to an aluminum can tab. Then use a keyring to attach the can tab to the eyelet (you may need a smaller one than usual depending on the diameter of your rocket). The apparent benefit (easy testing and replacement of parachutes or streamers) seems to excede the small cost of extra weight, which is marginal.
I had for sometime been intending to make a "spare" parachute and had even traced out a parachute on an old Dick's Sporting Goods bag that was the size of a regular Alpha parachute. I decided to use this as the new parachute for NC-IV Ascention after it's original parachute (conveniently?) got a hole in it from the ejection charge on it's second flight. I used some three-hole-punch paper reinforcment stickers and pink thread from my Mom's sewing kit to finish the parachute in late March/ early April 2022. I easily took off the old 'chute and replaced it with the new one, with no cutting or gluing nessasary.
However, the nosecone has always been a bit hard to get in, but I think that is do to the small diameter compared to the can tabs, and the fact that the shock cord mount is bent outwards and gets caught on the bulky parachute (both of them). Except for this, the UniChute system has been working great so far!
At the April 2022 SRA launch, Ascention tested the new parachute. The parachute worked perfectly, with no errors. The UniChute system has finally proved it's worth! The only issue is that the large can tab can get in the way in smaller diameter rockets. This could be fixed if I had a smaller ring to use, can tabs are just light, free and abundant. Perhaps room for future improvement still exists...
Updated on 4/16/2022 by William Boersma