View source for Splashdown

{{short description|Method of landing a spacecraft by parachute in a body of water}}
{{For-multi|aircraft landing on water|Water landing|other uses|Splashdown (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Apollo 15 splashdown.jpg|thumb|[[Apollo 15]] makes contact with the Pacific Ocean.]]
[[Image:Splashdown.png|thumb|Locations of [[Atlantic Ocean]] splashdowns of American spacecraft prior to the 21st century]]
[[Image:Splashdown 2.png|thumb|Locations of [[Pacific Ocean]] splashdowns of American spacecraft]]

'''Splashdown''' is the method of landing a [[spacecraft]] or [[launch vehicle]] in a body of water, usually by [[parachute]]. This has been the primary recovery method of American capsules including NASA's [[Project Mercury|Mercury]], [[Project Gemini|Gemini]], [[Apollo program|Apollo]] and [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] along with the private [[SpaceX Dragon]]. It is also possible for the [[Boeing Starliner]], Russian [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]], and the Chinese [[Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] crewed capsules to land in water in case of contingency. [[NASA]] recovered the [[Space Shuttle]] [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|solid rocket boosters]] (SRBs) via splashdown, as is done for [[Rocket Lab|Rocket Lab's]] [[Electron (rocket)|Electron]] first stage.

As the name suggests, the vehicle [[parachute]]s into an [[ocean]] or other large body of water. Due to its low density and viscosity, water cushions the spacecraft enough that there is no need for a [[braking rocket]] to slow the final descent as is the case with Russian and Chinese crewed space capsules or [[Airbag#Spacecraft airbag landing systems|airbags]] as is the case with the [[Boeing Starliner|Starliner]].<ref name="Prof Tous">{{cite web |last1=Tous |first1=Marcos |title=The science behind splashdown—aerospace engineer explains how NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back |date = 28 June 2024|url=https://theconversation.com/the-science-behind-splashdown-an-aerospace-engineer-explains-how-nasa-and-spacex-get-spacecraft-safely-back-on-earth-232786 |website=The Conversation |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

The American practice came in part because American launch sites are on the coastline and launch primarily over water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/sites.html |title=Launch Services Program Launch Sites |publisher=NASA |date=2009-05-14 |access-date=2020-08-07}}</ref> Russian launch sites such as [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] are far inland, and most early launch aborts would descend on land.

==History==
[[File:Apollo14 - Landung.jpg|thumb|left|[[Apollo 14]] returns to Earth, 1971.]]
The splashdown method of landing was used for [[Mercury program|Mercury]], [[Gemini program|Gemini]] and [[Apollo program|Apollo]] (including [[Skylab]], which used Apollo capsules).  [[Soyuz 23]] unintentionally landed on a freezing lake with slushy patches of ice during a snowstorm.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/m4pD1L7hedA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200516214113/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4pD1L7hedA&attr_tag=BUqbSjTAJRrN1ykS%3A6 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4pD1L7hedA|title=The Accidental Spacecraft Splashdown Which Almost Killed Its Crew|date=May 16, 2020 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videocosmos.com/soyuz23.shtm |title=Soyuz-23, Lands On A Frozen Lake |publisher=VideoCosmos |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414220743/http://www.videocosmos.com/soyuz23.shtm |archive-date=2012-04-14 }}</ref>

On early Mercury flights, a helicopter attached a cable to the capsule, lifted it from the water and delivered it to a nearby ship. This was changed after the sinking of ''[[Liberty Bell 7]]''. All later Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules had a flotation collar (similar to a rubber life raft) attached to the spacecraft to increase their buoyancy. The spacecraft would then be brought alongside a ship and lifted onto deck by crane.

After the flotation collar is attached, a hatch on the spacecraft is usually opened. At that time, some astronauts decide to be hoisted aboard a helicopter for a ride to the recovery ship and some decided to stay with the spacecraft and be lifted aboard ship via crane.  All Gemini and Apollo flights (Apollos 7 to 17) used the former, while Mercury missions from Mercury 6 to Mercury 9, as well as all Skylab missions and Apollo-Soyuz used the latter, especially the Skylab flights as to preserve all medical data. During the Gemini and Apollo programs, NASA used {{MV|Retriever}} for the astronauts to practice water egress.

[[Apollo 11]] was America's first Moon landing mission and marked the first time that humans walked on the surface of another planetary body. The possibility of the astronauts bringing [[pathogen]]s from the Moon back to Earth was remote, but not ruled out. To contain any possible contaminants at the scene of the splashdown, the astronauts donned special Biological Isolation Garments and the outside of the suits were scrubbed prior to the astronauts being hoisted aboard {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|6}} and escorted safely inside a [[Mobile Quarantine Facility]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uss-hornet.org/history/apollo/ |title=Apollo 11 & 12 Recovery |author=Bob Fish |publisher=USS Hornet Museum's website}}</ref>
[[File:SpaceX CRS 25 Splashdown (1920x1080).webm|thumb|261x261px|The splashdown of the SpaceX CRS-25 resupply mission]]
Both the [[SpaceX Dragon 1]] and [[SpaceX Dragon 2|Dragon 2]] capsules were designed to use the splashdown method of landing.{{efn|Dragon 2 was originally intended to propulsively land using its [[SuperDraco]] engines, but this was abandoned except for contingency in case of parachute failure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McRea |first1=Aaron |title=Dragon receives long-planned propulsive landing upgrade after years of development |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/dragon-propulsive-landing/ |website=Nasa Spaceflight |date=October 10, 2024 |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref>}} The original cargo Dragon splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of [[Baja California]]. At the request of NASA, both the crew and cargo variations of the Dragon 2 capsule splash down off the coast of [[Florida]], either in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] or the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/01/12/cargo-dragon-heads-for-splashdown-off-floridas-west-coast/|title=Cargo Dragon heads for splashdown off Florida's west coast|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=12 January 2021|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=AUDIT OF COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION}}</ref>

The early design concept for [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] (then known as the [[Crew Exploration Vehicle]]) featured recovery on land using a combination of parachutes and airbags, although it was also designed to make a contingency splashdown if needed. Due to weight considerations, the airbag design concept was dropped for Orion, and it conducts landings via splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/display.cfm?News_ID=37403 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703185450/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/display.cfm?News_ID=37403 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-03 |title=Solar System Exploration: News & Events: News Archive: NASA Announces Key Decision For Next Deep Space Transportation System |publisher=Solarsystem.nasa.gov |date=2011-05-24 |access-date=2012-06-21}}</ref>

==Disadvantages==
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect is the possibility of the spacecraft flooding and sinking. For example, when the hatch of [[Gus Grissom]]'s ''[[Mercury-Redstone 4|Liberty Bell 7]]'' capsule blew prematurely, the capsule sank and Grissom almost drowned. Since the spacecraft's flooding will occur from a location in its hull where it ruptures first, it is important to determine the location on the hull that experiences the highest loading.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jain|first=U.|display-authors=et al.|journal=Journal of Fluid Mechanics|date=2021|volume=938|issue=4|title=Air entrapment and its effect on pressure impulses in the slamming of a flat disc on water |article-number= A31 |doi=10.1017/jfm.2021.846| arxiv=2012.10137|bibcode=2021JFM...928A..31J }}</ref> This location along the impacting side is determined by the surrounding 'air cushion' layer, which deforms the water surface before the moment of impact, and results in a non-trivial geometry of the liquid surface during first touch-down.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jain|first=U.|display-authors=et al.|journal=Physical Review Fluids|date=2021|volume=6|issue=4|title=Air-cushioning effect and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability before the slamming of a disk on water |article-number= L042001 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevFluids.6.L042001|arxiv= 2106.09551|bibcode=2021PhRvF...6d2001J }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Verhagen|first=J.H.G|journal= Journal of Ship Research|year=1967|title=The Impact of a Flat Plate on a Water Surface|volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=211–223 |doi=10.5957/jsr.1967.11.4.211 |url=https://archive.org/details/Verhagen1967}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last= Asryan |first=N.G.|journal= Izv. Akad. Nauk Arm. SSR Mekh|date=1972|title=Solid plate impact on surface of incompressible fluid in the presence of a gas layer between them|url=https://archive.org/details/Asrian1972_201803}}</ref> [[Soyuz 23]] was dragged under a frozen lake by its parachutes. The crew became incapacitated by [[carbon dioxide]] and were rescued after a nine-hour recovery operation.<ref name="NASA CO2">{{cite web |title=Carbon Dioxide (CO2) OCHMO-TB-004 Rev C |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ochmo-tb-004-carbon-dioxide.pdf |website=NASA |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

If the capsule comes down far from any recovery forces, the crew may be stranded at sea for an extended period of time.  As an example, Scott Carpenter in ''[[Mercury-Atlas 7|Aurora 7]]'' overshot the assigned landing zone by {{convert|400|km|sp=us}}.  These recovery operation mishaps can be mitigated by placing several vessels on standby in different locations, but this can be an expensive option.

Exposure to salt water can have adverse effects on vehicles intended for reuse, such as [[SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]].<ref name="NASA Reusable Rocket">{{cite web |work = NASA|pages=4–5|title=A FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING THE REUSABILITY OF HARDWARE (REUSABLE ROCKET ENGINES |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20170000606/downloads/20170000606.pdf |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref>

==Launch vehicles==
[[File:Freedom Star SRB recovery.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle SRB being recovered by [[MV Freedom Star|''Freedom Star'']] after splashing down on [[STS-133]]]]
Some reusable launch vehicles recover components via splashdown. This was first seen with the [[Space Shuttle]] [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|SRBs]], with [[STS-1]] launching in 1981. Out of 135 launches, [[NASA]] recovered all but two sets of SRBs.<ref name="NSF SRBs">{{cite web |last1=Gebhardt |first1=Chris |date=8 July 2012|title=One year on – Review notes superb performance of STS-135's SRBs |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/07/final-flight-superb-performance-sts-135s-srbs/ |website=NASA Spaceflight |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

[[SpaceX]] has conducted propulsive splashdowns of the [[Falcon 9]] first stage, [[SpaceX Super Heavy|Super Heavy]] booster, and [[SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)|Starship]] spacecraft. These vehicles are designed to land on land or [[autonomous spaceport drone ship|modified barges]] and do not always survive intact after tipping over in the water; SpaceX has mainly conducted propulsive splashdowns for [[SpaceX reusable launch system development program|development flights]]. After the launch of [[SpaceX CRS-16|CRS-16]], the booster experienced a control issue and splashed down in the ocean instead of making an intended landing at [[SpaceX Landing Zone 1|Landing Zone 1]].<ref name="NSF CRS-16">{{cite web |last1=Bergin |first1=Chris |date=13 January 2019|title=CRS-16 Dragon returns to Earth following ISS departure |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/01/crs-16-dragon-departs-iss-return-journey/ |website=NASA Spaceflight |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

[[Rocket Lab]] intended to catch the first stage of their [[Rocket Lab Electron|Electron]] rocket with a helicopter as it descended under parachute, but abandoned this idea in favor of parachute splashdown. In 2020, Rocket Lab made their first booster recovery.<ref name="TechCrunchElectron">{{cite web |last1=Coldewey |first1=Devin |title=Rocket Lab makes its first booster recovery after successful launch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/19/rocket-lab-makes-its-first-booster-recovery-after-successful-launch/ |website=TechCrunch |date=19 November 2020|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

==List of spacecraft splashdowns==
===Crewed spacecraft===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Spacecraft
! Agency
! Landing date
! Coordinates
! Recovery ship
! Miss distance (km)
! Reference
|-
| 1
| ''[[Mercury-Redstone 3|Freedom 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| May 5, 1961
| {{coord|27|13.7|N|75|53|W|name=Freedom 7}}
| {{USS|Lake Champlain|CV-39|6}}
| {{convert|5.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
|<ref>Ezell (1988) p. 143</ref>
|-
| 2
| ''[[Mercury-Redstone 4|Liberty Bell 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| July 21, 1961
| {{coord|27|32|N|75|44|W|name=Liberty Bell 7}}
| {{USS|Randolph|CV-15|6}}
| {{convert|9.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}  
|<ref>Ezell (1988) p. 144</ref>
|-
| 3
| ''[[Mercury-Atlas 6|Friendship 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| February 20, 1962
| {{coord|21|26|N|68|41|W|name=Friendship 7}}
| {{USS|Noa|DD-841|6}}<br>(USS ''Randolph''**)
| 74 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 145</ref>
|-
| 4
| ''[[Mercury-Atlas 7|Aurora 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| May 24, 1962
| {{coord|19|27|N|63|59|W|name=Aurora 7}}
| {{USS|John R. Pierce|DD-753|6}}<br>({{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|6}}**)
| 400 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 146</ref>
|-
| 5
| ''[[Mercury-Atlas 8|Sigma 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| October 3, 1962
| {{coord|32|06|N|174|28|W|name=Sigma 7}}
| {{USS|Kearsarge|CV-33|6}}
| 7.4 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 147</ref>
|-
| 6
| ''[[Mercury-Atlas 9|Faith 7]]''
| [[NASA]]
| May 16, 1963
| {{coord|27|20|N|176|26|W|name=Faith 7}}
| USS ''Kearsarge''
| 8.1 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 148</ref>
|-
| 7
| [[Gemini 3]]
| [[NASA]]
| March 23, 1965
| {{coord|22|26|N|70|51|W|name=Gemini 3}}
| USS ''Intrepid''
| 111 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 159</ref>
|-
| 8
| [[Gemini 4]]
| [[NASA]]
| June 7, 1965
| {{coord|27|44|N|74|11|W|name=Gemini 4}}
| {{USS|Wasp|CV-18|6}}
| 81 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 160</ref>
|-
| 9
| [[Gemini 5]]
| [[NASA]]
| August 29, 1965
| {{coord|29|44|N|69|45|W|name=Gemini 5}}
| USS ''Lake Champlain''
| 270 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 161</ref>
|-
| 10
| [[Gemini 7]]
| [[NASA]]
| December 18, 1965
| {{coord|25|25|N|70|07|W|name=Gemini 7}}
| USS ''Wasp''
| 12 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 162</ref>
|-
| 11
| [[Gemini 6A]]
| [[NASA]]
| December 16, 1965
| {{coord|23|35|N|67|50|W|name=Gemini 6A}}
| USS ''Wasp''
| 13 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 163</ref>
|-
| 12
| [[Gemini 8]]
| [[NASA]]
| March 17, 1966
| {{coord|25|14|N|136|0|E|name=Gemini 8}}
| {{USS|Leonard F. Mason|DD-852|6}}<br>({{USS|Boxer|LPH-4|6}}**)
| 2 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 164</ref>
|-
| 13
| [[Gemini 9A]]
| [[NASA]]
| June 6, 1966
| {{coord|27|52|N|75|0|W|name=Gemini 9A}}
| USS ''Wasp''
| 0.7 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 165</ref>
|-
| 14
| [[Gemini 10]]
| [[NASA]]
| July 21, 1966
| {{coord|26|45|N|71|57|W|name=Gemini 10}}
| {{USS|Guadalcanal|LPH-7|6}}
| 6 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 166</ref>
|-
| 15
| [[Gemini 11]]
| [[NASA]]
| September 15, 1966
| {{coord|24|15|N|70|0|W|name=Gemini 11}}
| {{USS|Guam|LPH-9|6}}
| 5 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 167</ref>
|-
| 16
| [[Gemini 12]]
| [[NASA]]
| November 15, 1966
| {{coord|24|35|N|69|57|W|name=Gemini 12}}
| USS ''Wasp''
| 5 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 168</ref>
|-
| 17
| [[Apollo 7]]
| [[NASA]]
| October 22, 1968
| {{coord|27|32|N|64|04|W|name=Apollo 7}}
| {{USS|Essex|CV-9|6}}
| 3 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 188</ref>
|-
| 18
| [[Apollo 8]]
| [[NASA]]
| December 27, 1968
| {{coord|8|7.5|N|165|1.2|W|name=Apollo 8}}
| {{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|6}}
| 2 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume II, p. 189</ref>
|-
| 19
| [[Apollo 9]]
| [[NASA]]
| March 13, 1969
| {{coord|23|15|N|67|56|W|name=Apollo 9}}
| USS ''Guadalcanal''
|  5 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 83</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 58</ref>
|-
| 20
| [[Apollo 10]]
| [[NASA]]
| May 26, 1969
| {{coord|15|2|S|164|39|W|name=Apollo 10}}
| {{USS|Princeton|LPH-5|6}}
|  2.4 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 84</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 78</ref>
|-
| 21
| [[Apollo 11]]
| [[NASA]]
| July 24, 1969
| {{coord|13|19|N|169|9|W|name=Apollo 11}}
| {{USS|Hornet|CV-12|6}}
| 3.13 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 85</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 98</ref>
|-
| 22
| [[Apollo 12]]
| [[NASA]]
| November 24, 1969
| {{coord|15|47|S|165|9|W|name=Apollo 12}}
| USS ''Hornet''
| 3.7 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 86</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 120</ref>
|-
| 23
| [[Apollo 13]]
| [[NASA]]
| April 17, 1970
| {{coord|21|38|S|165|22|W|name=Apollo 13}}
| {{USS|Iwo Jima|LPH-2|6}}
| 1.85 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 87</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 143</ref>
|-
| 24
| [[Apollo 14]]
| [[NASA]]
| February 9, 1971
| {{coord|27|1|S|172|39|W|name=Apollo 14}}
| {{USS|New Orleans|LPH-11|6}}
| 1.1 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 88</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 168</ref>
|-
| 25
| [[Apollo 15]]
| [[NASA]]
| August 7, 1971
| {{coord|26|7|N|158|8|W|name=Apollo 15}}
| {{USS|Okinawa|LPH-3|6}}
| 1.85 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 89</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 197</ref>
|-
| 26
| [[Apollo 16]]
| [[NASA]]
| April 27, 1972
| {{coord|0|43|S|156|13|W|name=Apollo 16}}
| {{USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14|6}}
| 0.55 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 91</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 225</ref>
|-
| 27
| [[Apollo 17]]
| [[NASA]]
| December 19, 1972
| {{coord|17|53|S|166|7|W|name=Apollo 17}}
| USS ''Ticonderoga''
| 1.85 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 92</ref><ref>Orloff, p. 251</ref>
|-
| 28
| [[Skylab 2]]
| [[NASA]]
| June 22, 1973
| {{coord|24|45|N|127|2|W|name=Skylab 2}}
| USS ''Ticonderoga''
| 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 104</ref>
|-
| 29
| [[Skylab 3]]
| [[NASA]]
| September 25, 1973
| {{coord|30|47|N|120|29|W|name=Skylab 3}}
| USS ''New Orleans''
| 
|<ref name="Ezell, Volume III, p. 105">Ezell, Volume III, p. 105</ref>
|-
| 30
| [[Skylab 4]]
| [[NASA]]
| February 8, 1974
| {{coord|31|18|N|119|48|W|name=Skylab 4}}
| USS ''New Orleans''
| 
|<ref name="Ezell, Volume III, p. 105"/>
|-
| 31
| [[Apollo–Soyuz Test Project|Apollo CSM-111]]
| [[NASA]]
| July 24, 1975
| {{coord|22|N|163|W|name=ASTP Apollo}}
| USS ''New Orleans''
| 1.3 
|<ref>Ezell, Volume III, p. 112</ref><ref>[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780009147_1978009147.pdf "ASTP Apollo Miss Distance"], ''ASTP Summary Science Report - Mission Description'' p. 36, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214223755/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780009147_1978009147.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780009147_1978009147.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |date=2010-02-14 }}</ref>
|-
| 32
| [[Soyuz 23]]
| [[Soviet space program|USSR]]
| October 16, 1976
| [[Lake Tengiz]]
| [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]] helicopter
|
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-cosmonauts-land-in-l/171148700/ |title=Cosmonauts land in lake in snowstorm |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=October 18, 1976 |agency=UPI |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| 33
| [[Crew Dragon Demo-2]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| August 2, 2020
| {{coord|29|48|N|87|30|W|name=Crew Dragon Demo-2}}
| ''[[GO Navigator]]''
|
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/science/spacex-nasa-return.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes |title=NASA Astronauts in SpaceX Capsule Make First Water Landing Since 1975 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| 33
| [[SpaceX Crew-1|Crew Dragon Crew-1]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| May 2, 2021
| {{coord|29|32|N|86|11|W|name=Crew Dragon Crew-1}}
| ''GO Navigator''
|
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/space/os-bz-spacex-crew1-astronaut-splashdown-20210502-3ujhszbeejhxtbmb55lynkzcc4-story.html |title=SpaceX Dragon splashes down in Gulf of Mexico, bringing 4 astronauts home |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=May 2, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 34
| [[Inspiration4]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| September 18, 2021
|
| ''[[GO Searcher]]''
|
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/18/tech/spacex-inspiration4-splashdown-scn/index.html |title=SpaceX capsule returns four civilians from orbit, capping off first tourism mission |website=[[CNN|CNN.com]] |date=September 18, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 35
| [[SpaceX Crew-2|Crew Dragon Crew-2]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| November 7, 2021
|
| ''GO Navigator''
|
|
|-
| 35
| [[Axiom Mission 1]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| April 25, 2022
|
| ''[[Megan (ship)|Megan]]''
|
|
|-
|36
|[[SpaceX Crew-3|Crew Dragon Crew-3]]
|[[SpaceX]]
|May 6, 2022
|
|''[[Shannon (ship)|Shannon]]''
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |author=Jackie Wattles |title=SpaceX's wildly busy year continues with astronaut splashdown |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/06/tech/spacex-crew-3-nasa-splashdown-scn/index.html |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=CNN|date=May 6, 2022 }}</ref>
|-
|37
|[[SpaceX Crew-4|Crew Dragon Crew-4]]
|[[SpaceX]]
|October 14, 2022
|
|''[[Megan (ship)|Megan]]''
|
|
|-
|38
|[[SpaceX Crew-5|Crew Dragon Crew-5]]
|[[SpaceX]]
|March 11, 2023
|
|''[[Shannon (ship)|Shannon]]''
|
|
|-
|39
|[[Axiom Mission 2]]
|[[SpaceX]]
|May 31, 2023
|
|''[[Megan (ship)|Megan]]''
|
|
|-
|40
|[[Polaris Dawn]]
|[[SpaceX]]
|Sep 15, 2024
|
|
|
|
|}

===Uncrewed spacecraft===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Spacecraft
! Agency
! Landing date
! Coordinates
! Recovery ship
! Miss distance
|-
| [[PGM-19 Jupiter#Biological flights|Jupiter AM-18]]<br>(Able and Baker)
| [[United States Air Force|USAF]]
| May 28, 1959
| {{convert|48|to|96|km|mi|abbr=on}} N Antigua Island
| {{USS|Kiowa|AT-72|6}}
| {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EzY_AAAAIBAJ&dq=jupiter&pg=2850%2C525201 |title=Animals Survive 1,500-Mile Ride In Rocket Nose |work=The Windsor Daily Star |location=Windsor, Ontario |agency=Associated Press |date= May 28, 1959}}</ref>
|-
| [[Big Joe 1|Mercury-Big Joe]]
| [[NASA]]
| September 9, 1959
| {{convert|2,407|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE Cape Canaveral
| {{USS|Strong|DD-758|6}}
| {{convert|925|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4201/ch7-6.htm |title=Big Joe Shot |website=nasa.gov |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Little Joe 2|Mercury-Little Joe 2]]
Sam The [[Rhesus Monkey]]
| NASA
| December 4, 1959
| {{convert|319|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE Wallops Island, Virginia
| {{USS|Borie|DD-704|6}}
| ? km<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-monkey-sent-aloft-to-te/183220677/|title=Monkey Sent Aloft to Test Equipment for U.S. Astronauts |newspaper=The Buffalo News |location=Buffalo, New York |date=December 4, 1959 |access-date=October 18, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mercury-Redstone 1A]]
| NASA
| December 19, 1960
| {{convert|378.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE Cape Canaveral
| {{USS|Valley Forge|CV-45|6}}
| {{convert|12.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uR4sAAAAIBAJ&dq=valley%20forge%20mercury&pg=811,5955043 |title=Man-In-Space Capsule To Be Closely Studied |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Florence Times |location=Florence, Alabama |date=December 20, 1960}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mercury-Redstone 2]]
| NASA
| January 31, 1961
| {{convert|675.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE Cape Canaveral
| {{USS|Donner|LSD-20|6}}<ref name="homestead1">{{cite web|url=http://www.homestead.com/USSDONNERLSD20/index.html |title=USS Donner LSD20 |publisher=Homestead.com |access-date=2012-06-21}}</ref>
| {{convert|209.2|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-herald-chimp-survives-space/183220382/ |title=Chimp Survives Space Shot |newspaper=The Journal Herald |date=February 1, 1961 |access-date=October 18, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mercury-Atlas 2]]
| NASA
| February 21, 1961
| {{convert|2293.3|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE Cape Canaveral
| USS ''Donner''<ref name="homestead1"/>
| {{convert|20.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bQAsAAAAIBAJ&dq=donner&pg=1439,5138841 |title=Space Capsule Soars 107 Miles High |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Florence Times |location=Florence, Alabama |date=February 21, 1961}}</ref>
|-
| [[Discoverer 25]]<br>(Corona 9017)
| USAF
| June 16, 1961
| 
| 
| mid-air recovery missed
|-
| [[Mercury-Atlas 4]]
| NASA
| September 13, 1961
| {{convert|257.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} E of Bermuda
| {{USS|Decatur|DD-936|6}}
| {{convert|64.4|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SeRIAAAAIBAJ&dq=decatur&pg=1550,1134316 |title=U.S. Robot Orbited, Returned |newspaper=Meriden Journal |date=September 13, 1961}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mercury-Atlas 5]]
| NASA
| November 29, 1961
| {{convert|804.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE of Bermuda
| {{USS|Stormes|DD-780|6}}
| ? km<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kp5OAAAAIBAJ&dq=stormes&pg=6019,4614561 |title=Capsule Trouble Forces Early Landing Of Craft |agency=Associated Press |location=Toledo, Ohio |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=November 29, 1961}}</ref>
|-
| [[Gemini 2]]
| NASA
| January 19, 1965
| {{coord|16|33.9|N|49|46.27|W|name=Gemini 2}} {{convert|3423.1|km|mi|abbr=on}} downrange from KSC
| USS ''Lake Champlain''
| {{convert|38.6|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19650018359_1965018359.pdf "Gemini 2 Distance traveled, Landing Point, Miss Distance"], ''Manned Space Flight Network Performance Analysis for the GT-2 Mission; Pg V - Distance traveled, Page 21 - Landing Point, Miss Distance'', (NASA X-552-65-204)</ref>
|-
| [[AS-201]]
| NASA
| February 26, 1966
| {{coord|8.18|S|11.15|W|format=dms|name=Apollo 201}} {{convert|8,472|km|mi|abbr=on}} downrange from KSC
| USS ''Boxer''
| ? km<ref name="uncrewed" />
|-
| [[AS-202]]
| NASA
| August 25, 1966
| {{coord|16.12|N|168.9|E|format=dms|name=Apollo 202}} {{convert|804.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Wake Island
| USS ''Hornet''
| ? km<ref name="uncrewed">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/Apollo-Saturn-Uncrewed.html|title=Apollo-Saturn Unmanned Missions|first=Cheryl L.|last=Mansfield|date=January 9, 2018|website=NASA|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=July 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711222639/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/Apollo-Saturn-Uncrewed.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Manned Orbiting Laboratory|Gemini 2-MOL]]
| USAF
| November 3, 1966
| {{convert|8,149.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE KSC near Ascension Island
| {{USS|La Salle|LPD-3|6}}
| {{convert|11.26|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jRQhAAAAIBAJ&dq=titan&pg=5563%2C377286 |title=Titan 3 Gives Spectacular Space Show |location=Sarasota, Florida |newspaper=Sarasota Journal |date=November 3, 1966}}</ref>
|-
| [[Apollo 4]]
| NASA
| November 9, 1967
| {{coord|30.1|N|172.53|W|format=dms|name=Apollo 4}}
| {{USS|Bennington|CV-20|6}}
| {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="uncrewed" />
|-
| [[Apollo 6]]
| NASA
| April 4, 1968
| {{coord|27|40|N|157|59|W|name=Apollo 6}}
| USS ''Okinawa''
| ? km<ref name="uncrewed" />
|-
| [[Zond 5]]
| [[Soviet space program|USSR]]
| September 21, 1968
| {{coord|32.63|S|65.55|E|format=dms|name=Zond 5}}
| USSR recovery naval vessel {{ship|Soviet ship|Borovichy||2}} and {{ship|Soviet ship|Vasiliy Golovin||2}}
| {{convert|105|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Michael Cassutt|title=Red Moon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QdBP8E4di0sC&pg=PA320|year=2007|publisher=Tom Doherty Associates|isbn=978-1-4299-7172-0|page=320}}</ref><ref>[https://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Alpha&Alias=Zond%2005&Letter=Z&Display=ReadMore "Zond 5, Landing Point, Miss Distance"]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927021949/https://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Alpha&Alias=Zond%2005&Letter=Z&Display=ReadMore |date=2011-09-27 }}, ''NASA Solar System Exploration - Zond 5, Landing Point, Miss Distance.''</ref>
|-
| [[Zond 8]]
| USSR
| October 27, 1970
| {{convert|730|km|mi|abbr=on}} SE of the [[Chagos Archipelago]], Indian Ocean
| USSR recovery ship {{ship|Soviet ship|Taman||2}}
| 24&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite book|author=Brian Harvey|title=Soviet and Russian Lunar Exploration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVeY7vMCtOkC&pg=PA218|year=2007|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-0-387-73976-2|page=218}}</ref><ref>[https://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Zond_08&StartYear=1970&EndYear=1979&Display=ReadMore "Zond 8, Landing Point"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927021728/https://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Zond_08&StartYear=1970&EndYear=1979&Display=ReadMore |date=2011-09-27 }}, ''NASA Solar System Exploration - Zond 8, Splashdown area.''</ref>
|-
| [[Cosmos 1374]]
| USSR
| June 4, 1982
| {{coord|17|S|98|E|format=dms|name=Cosmos 1374}} {{convert|560|km|mi|abbr=on}} S of [[Cocos Islands]], Indian Ocean
| USSR recovery ship
| ?&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Cosmos 1445]]
| USSR
| March 15, 1983
| {{convert|556|km|mi|abbr=on}} S of Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean
| USSR recovery ship
| ?&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Cosmos 1517]]
| USSR
| December 27, 1983
| near [[Crimea]], [[Black Sea]]
| USSR recovery ship
| ?&nbsp;km
|-
| [[Cosmos 1614]]
| USSR
| December 19, 1984
| ?&nbsp;km W of the Crimea, Black Sea
| USSR recovery ship
| ?&nbsp;km
|-
| [[COTS Demo Flight 1]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| December 8, 2010
| {{convert|800|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Baja California]], Mexico,  Pacific Ocean
| ?
| {{convert|0.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20101208|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210214816/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20101208|url-status=dead|title="COTS 1 (SpaceX Dragon 1), Splashdown area"|archivedate=December 10, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dragon C2+]]
| SpaceX
| May 31, 2012
| {{coord|26.92|N|120.7|W|format=dms|name=Dragon C2+}}
| ?
| ?<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/05/31/history-is-made-as-dragon-splashes-down-safely-in-the-pacific/ |title=History is made as Dragon splashes down safely in the Pacific! &#124; Bad Astronomy &#124; Discover Magazine |publisher=Blogs.discovermagazine.com |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705041532/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/05/31/history-is-made-as-dragon-splashes-down-safely-in-the-pacific/ |archive-date=2012-07-05 }}</ref>
|-
| [[CRS SpX-1]]
| SpaceX
| October 28, 2012
| ?
| ''American Islander''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=367035570 |title=American Island |website=marinetraffic.com |access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
| ?<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/living/index.html |title=Dragon Returns to Earth |publisher=NASA |date=2012-10-28 |access-date=2012-10-29 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602184650/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/living/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[CRS SpX-2]]
| SpaceX
| March 27, 2013
| ?
| ''American Islander''
| ?<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/005/130326splashdown/|title=SpaceX brings home Dragon with 2,700 pounds of cargo
|publisher=Spaceflightnow|date=2013-03-26 |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref>
|-
| [[Exploration Flight Test 1]]
| NASA
| December 5, 2014
| {{coord|23.6||N|116.4||W|name=EFT-1}}, {{convert|275|mi|km|order=flip}} west of Baja California
| {{USS|Anchorage|LPD-23|6}}
|
|-
| [[Crew Dragon Demo-1]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| March 8, 2019
|  In the [[Gulf of Mexico]], off the coast of [[Pensacola]], Florida
| [[GO Searcher]]
|
|-
| [[SpaceX CRS-21]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| January 14, 2020
| In the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], Florida
| GO Navigator
|
|-
| [[Artemis I]]
| NASA
| December 11, 2022
| Pacific Ocean, west of [[Baja California]]
| [[USS Portland (LPD-27)|USS ''Portland'']]
| 4 [[Nautical Miles|nm]]
|
|-
| [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4|IFT-4]]
| SpaceX
| June 6, 2024
| Indian Ocean
|
|-
| [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 5|IFT-5]]
| SpaceX
| October 13, 2024
| Indian Ocean
|
|-
| [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 6|IFT-6]]
| SpaceX
| November 19, 2024
| Indian Ocean
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Apollo 15 descends to splashdown.jpg|The [[Apollo 15]] spacecraft splashed down safely despite a parachute failure. (NASA)
File:Splashdown 2.jpg|Apollo 15 splashdown ([[NASA]])
File:Splashdown 3.jpg|[[Apollo 11]] after splashdown (NASA)
File:Apollo 13 CM recovery to USS Iwo Jima (S70-15530).jpg|[[Apollo 13]] hoisted onto ship (NASA)
File:Gemini water egress training - GPN-2006-000029.jpg|Gemini water [[:wikt:egress|egress]] training
File:Space X water3.JPG|Recovery of the [[Dragon C2+]] on May 31, 2012
File:EFT-1 Orion recovery.2.jpg|Recovery of the EFT-1 Orion, December 5, 2014
File:SpaceX Demo-2 Landing (NHQ202008020015).jpg|Landing of [[Crew Dragon Demo-2|SpaceX Demo-2]], 2 August 2020
Artemis II Orion Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10) - Day 3 (KSC-20230727-PH KAA02-0017).jpg|[[Artemis II]] [[Orion capsule]] [[well dock]] Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10)
</gallery>

==See also==
{{geoGroup}}
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
*[[Apollo program]]
*[[Apollo–Soyuz Test Project]]
*[[Helicopter 66]]
*[[Project Gemini]]
*[[Project Mercury]]
*[[Skylab]]
*[[SpaceX Dragon 1]]
*[[SpaceX Dragon 2]]
*[[Water landing]]
*[[Zond program]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880016045_1988016045.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880016045_1988016045.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Ezell |first=Linda Neumann |title=NASA Historical Data Book |volume=II Programs and Projects 1958 - 1968 (NASA SP-4012) |date=1988 }}
*{{citation |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880016046_1988016046.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880016046_1988016046.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Ezell |first=Linda Neumann |title=NASA Historical Data Book |volume= III - Programs and Projects 1969 - 1978 (SP-4012) |date=1988 }}
*{{citation |first= Richard W. |last=Orloff |page= 143 |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20010008244_2001006037.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20010008244_2001006037.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title= Apollo By The Numbers - A Statistical Reference (NASA SP-2000-4029)}}

==External links==
*{{wiktionary-inline}}

{{Types of take-off and landing}}

[[Category:Spaceflight concepts]]
[[Category:Lists of coordinates]]
[[Category:Types of landing]]