Emirati Astronaut's Historic Return: Land or Ocean for Touchdown?
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his three colleagues will be returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which will splash down off the coast of Florida. While Russians and Chinese rely on land touchdowns, Americans have mostly used water splashdowns. Both methods have proven reliable, with parachutes used to slow down the spacecraft. Water landings are slightly more comfortable as they provide an extra cushion to the capsule, reducing the need for additional braking.