Currently the only means of travel between the Earth and the International Space Station is via of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This fascinating European Space Agency video describes the process of returning home, and I was amazed by how scary the process sounds. For example, the so-called “soft landing” involves firing retrorockets just 70 centimeters (about 28 inches) above the ground. At least the seats are cushioned with shock absorbers. Remind me not to volunteer for this.
Link to Phil Plait’s Bad Astronomy blog entry where I saw this.
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