Which recovery method is classified as passive for high-power rockets?

Passive recovery methods are designed to rely on the natural dynamics of the rocket and the surrounding environment rather than active mechanism control. In the context of high-power rockets, both parachute deployment and tumble recovery fall under this classification.

Parachute deployment is a well-known passive recovery method where a parachute is deployed at a specified altitude, allowing the rocket to descend gently back to the ground. This relies on gravity and air resistance rather than active input from the rocket’s systems after the parachute has been deployed.

Tumble recovery, on the other hand, involves the rocket spinning or tumbling in free fall, which can naturally reduce its descent speed and stabilize its descent path without needing complex recovery mechanisms. This method uses aerodynamic forces to slow the descent until the rocket reaches the ground.

Both methods do not require ongoing active control or systems to guide the rocket in its descent after the initial deployment (in the case of parachutes) or after it begins to tumble. This distinction defines them as passive recovery techniques.

Active deployment, in contrast, involves mechanisms that actively manage the descent or adjust the rocket’s trajectory, which would not fit into the passive recovery category.

Thus, the combination of both parachute deployment and tumble recovery as passive recovery methods is why the answer