Shubhanshu Shukla to splash down today: Here’s the physics behind the drop into the Pacific

At exactly 3:01 PM IST, Shubhanshu Shukla will hit the Pacific—softly. No runway, no wheels, just parachutes, physics, and a splashdown perfected over decades.

After 22.5 hours in transit, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will blaze through Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, then cool off—literally—in the Pacific Ocean.

Parachutes unfurl at 5,000 meters: two small ones to stabilize, four large ones to brake. This ballet of drag turns deadly speed into survivable splash.

Oceans are nature’s airbags. Unlike land, they compress, flow, and cradle the capsule—absorbing impact forces and reducing astronaut trauma.

Back on Earth, Shukla and crew face their next test: gravity. After weeks in space, even standing can feel like lifting weights. Rehab starts instantly.

Within minutes of splashdown, boats will secure the capsule and hoist it onto a ship. First stop: medical checks. Then, a flight to land and rehab.

No telescope needed—just a screen. NASA+, SpaceX, and Axiom Space will livestream the splashdown starting 2:00 PM IST. YouTube channels too.

Splashdowns save weight. No complex landing gear, no retrorockets—just a heat shield, parachutes, and buoyancy. Elegant. Brutal. Reliable.

This isn’t just a homecoming—it’s history. Shukla’s return marks a high point in India’s space journey, captured live over California’s waters.