So returning to Earth at 25k mph or
Mach35+ you need a very large rocket engine to slow to parachute
opening speed. Not too many choices beyond atmospheric drag.. So
the chutes slow vehicle to about 17mph for touch down; but now
winds may adjust touch down point beyond calculation before hand.
It's a test flight and we got a big ocean. there will be plenty
of time for nuance!
Hats off to those Navy divers getting the girdle on the fat lady.
Apparently there are currents to contend with!
And to the unseen workers gathering all the parachute stuff spread
over many square miles before the fishing boat start roaming by!!
Can-Do crowd at San Diego Naval Bases!!
h
On 4/11/2026 12:25, Michael Fuqua
wrote:
I had the same thoughts. I hope the astronauts had barf bags! It
all seemed rather rube goldberg to me. After such an amazing,
imaginative, techologically incredible 10 days what we saw seemed
right out of Apollo recoveries of the 1960s. Okay…but they gotta
find a better way. Give the task to Elon….he would figure it out.
:)
Indeed,
I did catch in one small live shot the birds were from
HSC-23 Wildcards at North Island.
I
cannot imagine how uncomfortable it must have been in
that close capsule bobbing around so long before they
even opened it up……..Obviousdly all a part of not
loosing that capsule, bu It seems to me they could
have easily skipped it all and just moved the Murtha
in close and let them tow this whole deal into the
well and be done with it. So both recovery helos were
flying without the left pilot’s door which I am
guessing watching them blow the fancy raft for the
astronaut recovery was so the left seat could fly the
approach and hold a hover over till one of the boat
swimmers grabbed the horse collar…..good illustration
of why the swimmer removes the pilot to be recued from
their raft so they do not geet chased all over the
ocean as was the case here…mgb
Does anyone
know why the divers weren’t put in the
water via helo? It took forever for the
boats to get out to the capsule. Way
back when during Mercury, Gemini and
Apollo, an H-3 arrived within seconds of
the chutes leaving the capsule.