Top News

Shubhanshu Shukla in the sea, then Rakesh Sharma made a landing on the ground, know what is the difference in both the processes?
Samira Vishwas | July 16, 2025 3:24 PM CST

New Delhi . Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla) made a landing on Earth on 3:01 (Indian time) on Tuesday evening after the 18 -day historical space journey. Spacex’s Dragon spacecraft performed a safe ‘Splashadown’ in the sea near the California coast. This return has once again given a wind to the debate whether it is more secure than the ground while returning from space? This question is also arising because, still, many countries including China and Russia give priority to lading on land. Rakesh Sharma, the first astronaut of India 41 years ago, also made landing on the ground.

Splashdown in the sea how safe
At first glance, the soft surface of the sea looks secure for lading. Splashdown in many American missions of Shubhanshu Shukla’s Exiom-4 and earlier was selected for security. This option is easy for space company SpaceX because some part of the spacecraft is separated before the return, if this debris falls on the ground, the population and property may be damaged. This risk is averted by falling into the sea. The effect of water during splashdown is soft for the astronaut, which relieves the tired body after an hour travel from space.

  • Also read 7 tests conducted by Shubhanshu Shukla in space will work in Gaganyaan Mission

Landing on the ground
The process of landing on the ground is more accurate than the splashdown in the sea and does not require marine recovery operation, yet there are many challenges. Countries like Russia and China still put their astronauts on the ground. Russia’s Soyuz Spacecraft has been landing on the huge flat earth of Kazakhstan for decades. China’s Shenzhou Mission Lands in Inner Mongolia. Not only this, India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma also landed in Kazakhstan’s unprecedented grounds in April 1984 through Soyuz T-10.

What is the problem in landing on the ground
Rakesh Sharma said in a conversation with the media last year, “At the time of return, I felt that I might not be able to escape, when the parachute opens, there is a very loud voice, for which we were not mentally ready.” During landing on the ground, the shock is high and it also affects the body, especially when the passengers have been in micrograti for months.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK