A parachute is usually a soft fabric device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag.
Parachutes are generally used to slow the descent of a person or object to Earth or another celestial body within an atmosphere.
Drogue parachutes are also sometimes used to aid horizontal deceleration of a vehicle (a fixed-wing aircraft or space shuttle after touchdown, or a drag racer).
Parachutes were once made from silk but now they are almost always constructed from more durable woven nylon fabric..
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