which includes a parachute 16 attached thereto both the payload 10 and the parachute 16 are shown schematically in the figure of the present invention the parachute 16 includes a canopy 12 which is initially collapsed or packed and is reefed to restrict inflation thereof such that that movement toward the fully inflated state can be controlled a plurality of suspension lines 14 extend from the canopy 12 of parachute 16 to the payload 10 in one common usage of the apparatus of the present invention is where the payload 10 is a space travel capsule is returning from a mission wherein control of airborne descent thereof is provided by the parachute 16 or a cluster of such parachutes in the present invention a canopy reefing device 18 is shown schematically in the figure extending around the lower surface or edge of the canopy 12 in order to selectively restrict inflation thereof until released a reefing release mechanism 20 is also shown which may include one or more individual reefing release devices as shown in the figure the first reefing release device 54 and the back up first reefing release device 57 are shown surrounding a reefing line 56 or more particularly extending around the first reefing line 72 which restricts.