On April 10, the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Artemis II mission landed in the ocean near San Diego. The ocean is difficult for landings. Waves and sinking can cause problems. It costs a lot to rescue astronauts from the sea. If the spacecraft landed on land, trucks could pick them up easily.
NASA uses ocean landings because they are safer. When spacecraft return to Earth, they come fast. Orion hit a speed of Mach 35. Slowing down for a soft landing is hard. Parachutes help, but the spacecraft still moves fast when it hits the water.
Landing in the ocean is better for safety. If the landing is not perfect, there is less risk in the sea than on land. Land has mountains and cities, which can be dangerous. Russian spacecraft, like Soyuz, land on land. They slow down using rockets just before landing.
American companies are trying to land on land too. Boeing’s Starliner will use air-filled bags to land softly. They hope to land in different areas across the U.S. In September 2024, a Starliner safely landed in New Mexico after a test flight.
