Americans Land Spacecraft at Sea, Russians Opt for Land

On April 10, NASA’s Orion spacecraft landed safely in the ocean near San Diego. It did not land on land, which would have made things easier. The ocean has big waves, and items can sink.

Retrieving the spacecraft from the ocean is costly. It needs Navy ships and helicopters for the astronauts. On land, a truck could take them back easily. Russia uses land for landing their spacecraft. However, NASA chose to land in the ocean because technical problems make landing on solid ground hard.

Spacecraft return to Earth at very high speeds. They need parachutes to slow down. But parachutes alone do not stop them completely. Before it landed, Orion was still going fast enough to cause injuries if it hit something solid.

Russia uses retrorockets, small engines, to slow their Soyuz spacecraft just before landing. This method is effective but can be heavy. It limits how many astronauts can go. American companies are now working to create new ways to land on solid ground safely. They want to make space travel better and cheaper.

How much do you know?

Where did NASA's Orion spacecraft land on April 10?

In the ocean near San Diego

On solid ground

In a desert

In a foreign country

Why does NASA land their spacecraft in the ocean?

It's easier to retrieve

Technical problems make land landing hard

It's cheaper

They prefer water landings

What method does Russia use to slow their Soyuz spacecraft before landing?

Parachutes

Retrorockets

Water landing

Airbags

What is a disadvantage of using retrorockets for landing?

They are ineffective

They can be heavy, limiting astronaut capacity

They are too expensive

They can only be used on solid ground

What do American companies want to improve about space travel?

Make it harder

Make it better and cheaper

Make it more dangerous

Make it more complex

What risk is associated with high-speed spacecraft landings?

They can explode

They can cause injuries if hitting something solid

They can sink

They can get lost

NASA's Orion spacecraft landed on solid ground on April 10.

True False

Retrieving a spacecraft from the ocean is less costly than from land.

True False

Russia uses retrorockets just before landing their spacecraft.

True False

Parachutes alone are enough to stop spacecraft completely during landing.

True False

American companies are working on safer solid ground landings for spacecraft.

True False

Orion spacecraft returned to Earth at a slow speed.

True False

NASA's Orion spacecraft landed safely in the ocean near .

Retrieving the spacecraft from the ocean is .

NASA chose to land in the ocean because technical problems make landing on solid ground .

Russia uses retrorockets to slow their Soyuz spacecraft just before .

American companies want to make space travel better and .

Spacecraft return to Earth at very speeds.

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