The physics of returning from orbit to Earth's surface
In short: Watch the final moments of a six-month mission as three astronauts transition from orbital velocity to a terrestrial landing in the Kazakh steppe.
On June 11, 2015, Samantha Cristoforetti, Terry Virts, and Anton Shkaplerov concluded their stay at the International Space Station. The Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft had to decelerate from a cruising speed of nearly 28,800 km/h before entering the atmosphere six hours after departure.
The landing sequence involved several critical stages: the separation of the small descent module, the deployment of parachutes for atmospheric braking, and the final firing of retrorockets. To ensure crew safety during the impact at 13:44 GMT, the vehicle utilized specialized springs in the molded seats to absorb the force of hitting the ground.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Soyuz TMA-15M landing – highlights
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