Splash Down!

[t-tony]

They're back from the ISS after splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola.

It's been a lot of years since we last saw this happen.

The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian “splashdown” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours.



Tony.

 

[as400]

That SpaceX/NASA mission went as smooth as butter...another feather in Elon Musk's cap.

 

[t-tony]

Apart from cluttering space with an old sports car .......................

Tony.

 

[petecossie]

Amazingly successful mission, lots of high technology on show. Well done to all concerned.
Watching the live feed, they will need to do something about securing the landing zone area next time though with all the “pleasure” boats turning up to watch at close quarters. Beggars belief.

 

[gookah]

I am dissapointed that he has to go back to such technology from over 50 years ago, when he can regularly land a booster on a platform out at sea,
Even the moon landing they managed without parachutes and water.

 

[t-tony]

Amazingly successful mission, lots of high technology on show. Well done to all concerned.
Watching the live feed, they will need to do something about securing the landing zone area next time though with all the “pleasure” boats turning up to watch at close quarters. Beggars belief.

That was mentioned as I watched yesterday Pete. Was a bit like a music concert on a beach.

Tony.

 

[Geophys]

I am dissapointed that he has to go back to such technology from over 50 years ago, when he can regularly land a booster on a platform out at sea,
Even the moon landing they managed without parachutes and water.

I believe it was a NASA stipulated requirement.

 

[t-tony]

I am dissapointed that he has to go back to such technology from over 50 years ago, when he can regularly land a booster on a platform out at sea,
Even the moon landing they managed without parachutes and water.

Maybe it’s the least expensive option not that you would think it matters much in the grand scheme of things. I guess they’re using more toxic fuels than 50 years ago, they seemed to take a long time to get the hatch opened.
Only thing with the boosters is that there are no people inside them if they go over the side.

Tony.

 

[DaveB with a Z3]

By choosing the water landing it probably saved a few billion dollars so I can see why it was done

 

[Geophys]

I think it was more to do with NASA's faith in it as a tried and tested system with the least risk to the crew.

 

[gookah]

I am sorry but I felt like i was going back 50 years,
I expect more, I may as well have turned the TV to black and white,and seen a replay.
is this really what 50 years of progress has delivered?

He can land rocket boosters within a metre of where he wants to, Nasa had a craft that could glide in and land properly, it just seems so old fashioned.

progress comes with risk, and you can easily prove it unmanned first

 

[ktnez99]

Apart from cluttering space with an old sports car .......................

Tony.

Bonkers. It’s orbiting Earth...