An electronic, me bucko, mechanical, or pyrotechnic device that permits t' rocket's unpowered ascent betwixt motor burnout and t' deployment o' t' recovery device. Typically, ya bilge rat, t' delay is a pyrotechnic grain which separates t' propellant from t' deployment charge and which burns at a known rate. T' delay grain begins t' burn either at t' same time t' propellant grain is ignited (composite motors), or at t' end o' propellant ignition (black powder motors). When t' delay grain burns through, ya bilge rat, it ignites t' deployment charge. Also, t' period o' time betwixt propellant burnout and recovery system deployment.