Splashdowns

A splashdown is the water landing of a spacecraft after reentry. This method is used by capsule-style vehicles that are designed to withstand high-speed atmospheric return and to float for recovery. Splashdowns are most closely associated with ocean landings and naval recovery operations.

Historically, Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions concluded with splashdowns in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, where U.S. Navy vessels and aircraft recovered the crew and capsule. The Space Shuttle landed on runways and did not use water splashdowns. In the modern era, SpaceX's Crew Dragon commonly splashes down in the ocean, while Soyuz landings occur on solid ground in Kazakhstan or Russia.

During descent, heat shields protect the capsule from reentry heat. Parachutes deploy to slow the descent, and flotation devices keep the capsule upright after water impact. Crew members wear pressure suits, and return procedures emphasize safe egress and medical checks before transfer to shore facilities.

Recovery teams include naval vessels, divers, and helicopters that secure the capsule, hoist it aboard, and extract the crew. The capsule is then decontaminated, examined, and transported to a processing facility for post-flight data analysis. Weather and sea state influence the timing and safety of the operation.

Splashdowns illustrate the maritime dimension of spaceflight operations and have shaped capsule design, recovery technology, and crew safety protocols for decades.