A small parachute used to slow and stabilize a spacecraft returning to the atmosphere, usually preceding deployment of a main landing parachute.

With SLS at 4.7 miles above the Pacific Ocean, Orion’s drogue parachutes deployed to slow the spacecraft even further.

Next came the pilot chutes and the main parachutes, which slowed Orion to less than 20 miles per hour.

The capsule then gently fell into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in the States.

Watch this video – Orion: Parachutes