A Desktop Application to Simulate Cargo Drop Tests

*† ‡ The NASA Decelerator Sy stem Simulati on (DSS) has been integrated into a personal computer desktop application. It offers enhanced usability via a convenient user interface . This provides the US Army with an easy -to -use, computer application able to simulat e the dynamics of airdr opped cargo from the time of first motion in the aircraft until landing. The US Army Natick Soldier Center had previously collaborated with NASA Johnson Space Center to adapt the DSS for use as a cargo airdrop simulator. The new application is a front end to the DSS that simplifies the generation and analysis o f simulation input and output. This paper documents the work performed to devel op and validate the application .