Now Reading: Sunita Williams’ return to Earth: Why SpaceX’s Dragon takes 17 hours while Russia’s Soyuz returns in just 3.5 hours |
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Sunita Williams’ return to Earth: Why SpaceX’s Dragon takes 17 hours while Russia’s Soyuz returns in just 3.5 hours |
Sunita Williams’ return to Earth: Why SpaceX’s Dragon takes 17 hours while Russia’s Soyuz returns in just 3.5 hours |
After spending 9 months on the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have begun their journey again to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The return mission, which commenced in the early hours of Tuesday, is predicted to conclude with a splashdown off the Florida coast by early night, supplied climate circumstances stay favorable.
NASA’s choice to carry the astronauts again utilizing SpaceX’s Dragon capsule marks the tip of a protracted keep in orbit that was initially deliberate to final just a few days. The duo had arrived on the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024, however a sequence of technical malfunctions left the spacecraft unfit for his or her return. As a consequence, they have been built-in into NASA’s long-duration house mission earlier than being scheduled for a return aboard the SpaceX Dragon.
Also Read: Sunita Williams return dwell updates
Why SpaceX’s Dragon takes 17 hours to return while Russia’s Soyuz does it in 3.5 hours
Unlike Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which might carry astronauts again to Earth in just 3.5 hours, the SpaceX Dragon capsule takes roughly 17 hours to full its return journey. The prolonged length is due to a number of rigorously deliberate elements that prioritize crew security and touchdown accuracy.
Factors affecting the return time:
Orbital alignment and Earth’s rotation:
(*17*)
- The ISS orbits Earth at a velocity of roughly 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph) at an altitude of round 420 km.
- A return journey requires exact alignment with designated touchdown zones, that means the Crew Dragon can’t provoke descent instantly after undocking.
Deorbit burn and atmospheric re-entry:
- To safely return, the spacecraft should carry out a managed deorbit burn, adjusting its trajectory towards the focused splashdown web site.
- Unlike the Soyuz, which follows a extra direct ballistic descent, Crew Dragon’s descent is rigorously managed to guarantee a smoother trip.
Heat and parachute deployment:
- During reentry, the capsule experiences excessive heating due to atmospheric friction, necessitating a gradual descent to keep away from extreme stress on the spacecraft and crew.
- At excessive altitudes, parachutes deploy to sluggish the spacecraft’s descent, making certain a secure touchdown.
Weather and touchdown circumstances:
- SpaceX selects touchdown websites based mostly on optimum climate circumstances, ocean currents, and the positioning of restoration ships.
- If circumstances on the major touchdown web site are unfavorable, the capsule could keep in orbit longer earlier than initiating reentry.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore return to Earth: Plan and timeline
NASA’s rigorously deliberate return operation started late Monday evening (ET), when Wilmore and Williams boarded the Crew Dragon capsule, sealed the hatches, and commenced pre-departure preparations.
Key occasions in the return mission:
- 11:05 PM (ET), Monday: The astronauts boarded the Crew Dragon capsule and secured the hatch. They then donned their flight fits and carried out a sequence of system checks.
- 1:05 AM (ET), Tuesday: The spacecraft autonomously undocked from the ISS.
- 5:57 PM (ET), Tuesday: The Dragon capsule is predicted to splash down off the coast of Florida.
NASA has been live-streaming key moments of the mission, together with the undocking sequence, deorbit burn, and splashdown procedures. Once the capsule safely lands, restoration groups will retrieve the astronauts and transport them to Houston’s Johnson Space Center for post-mission evaluations.
Mission significance and future implications
The return of Wilmore and Williams marks the conclusion of an prolonged mission that was initially designed as a short-duration check flight for Boeing’s Starliner capsule. However, following Starliner’s propulsion system points, NASA deemed it too dangerous for a crewed return, prompting an alternate association with SpaceX.
The profitable completion of this mission will likely be a testomony to the flexibility of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which has change into an important a part of NASA’s business crew program. Additionally, it highlights the continued challenges confronted by Boeing’s Starliner program, which has encountered repeated delays and technical failures.
