Ballute System

Ballute System
The picture shown is a RMS-108 Marasai equipped with the Ballute System descending down to Earth.
Usage
Operator	AEUG Titans Neo Zeon
Technical Specifications
Functional Purpose	Atmospheric Entry
First seen	0087 U.C.
Real World

The Ballute System is a technology introduced in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

Technological Overview

The Ballute System is a balloon-like device used to slow the descent of mobile suits and ships during atmospheric entry, preventing them from burning up. However, while the Ballute protects against atmospheric friction and heat, it is still vulnerable to beam or projectile weapon fire. If the ballute is damaged during entry, the attached mobile suit or ship will be exposed to extreme heat and plunge into the atmosphere blowing up the mobile suit or ship. When atmospheric reentry is successfully achieved, the ballute is jettisoned, either by breaking apart(for ships) or by being jettisoned via the use of a parachute(for mobile suits).

The Ballute System for ships is typically mounted on the aft, due to ships entering the atmosphere stern first. The system used by mobile suits is equipped in a large backpack, with the ballute itself encompassing the mobile suit's frame from the back. The system also comes with thruster units, one on the chest and one on each leg. These units are used to slow down the mobile suit's freefall once atmospheric entry is complete and the ballute is jettisoned.

History

The Ballute System was first seen in U.C. 0087 as the Anti Earth Union Group initiated their atmospheric entry to Earth to initiate the Second Battle of Jaburo. Members of both the AEUG and the Titans outfitted their mobile suits with the Ballute System with the intention of continuing their battle once they entered the atmosphere. The flaws in the system were made apparent thanks to the death of Kacricon Cacooler: overeager in his attempt to shoot down Kamille Bidan and the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, Kacricon chased the Gundam until his Ballute automatically activated, despite Jerid Messa warning him of such a thing. As Kamille was using the Flying Armor to enter the atmosphere, it allowed him to pass by and pop his Ballute with his beam rifle, causing Kacricon's mobile suit to burn up and explode. The Argama was also equipped with the ballute system, which it used to briefly enter the atmosphere before recovering the Gundam Mk-II and return to space.

The Neo Zeon also made use of the Ballute System for its Earth invasion operation during the First Neo Zeon War in U.C. 0088, equipping it on their Endra-class and Sadalahn-class ships. The Nahel Argama would make use of the Ballute System in U.C. 0096 to briefly enter the Earth's atmosphere to assist in the recovery of the Garencieres and the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam.

Gallery

An A.E.U.G. RMS-179 GM II using the Ballute System

A Ballute System jettisoning via parachute

The Argama using the Ballute System

The Sadalahn entering Earth's atmosphere

The SCVA-76 Nahel Argama deploying its Ballute System.

References

Ballute System File 01 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 34, Pg 23)

Ballute System File 02 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 34, Pg 24)

Ballute System File 03 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 34, Pg 25)

Ballute System File 03 (Official Gundam Fact File, Issue 34, Pg 26)