Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tommy Carcetti

(44,565 posts)
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 08:32 PM Apr 10

That was the first ever live splashdown I've seen of a space craft.

I’ve watched short clips of the old Apollo splashdowns. And the shuttle landed like a plane.

Rather impressive.

All I have to say is we needed that safe return.

Let’s savor it. Perhaps the one and only feel good news story we’ll get all year.

Unless…well, you know what I’m thinking, right?

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
That was the first ever live splashdown I've seen of a space craft. (Original Post) Tommy Carcetti Apr 10 OP
It's been a long time. surfered Apr 10 #1
I think... 2naSalit Apr 10 #2
I remember watching The Right Stuff wishing I had been around for Glenn's flight Tommy Carcetti Apr 10 #3
Back then... 2naSalit Apr 10 #5
I was in Japan and my mom said John Glenn was orbitting the earth. LeftInTX Apr 11 #15
I was is first grade also Sequoia Apr 11 #19
I remember gerryatwork Apr 10 #11
Glenn thought he wasn't going to survive SCantiGOP Apr 10 #14
Yeah, they kept the retro rocket package on... Tommy Carcetti Apr 11 #16
I remember the prior splashdowns LetMyPeopleVote Apr 10 #4
I am in awe of how many people it takes to make something like this happen. llmart Apr 10 #6
We relished every moment of it! calimary Apr 10 #7
So fabulous to watch this! I cheered when Wiseman responded after they got through the atmosphere. AllyCat Apr 10 #8
I watched nearly all the Apollo missions FoxNewsSucks Apr 10 #9
So wonderful.🙂 Javaman Apr 10 #10
The name. hamsterjill Apr 10 #12
I remember him Sequoia Apr 11 #20
In 1975, they swore to me that I had just watched the last landing of this nature. Gore1FL Apr 10 #13
53 years. One ending... and one beginning. 🌊🚀 LetMyPeopleVote Apr 11 #17
That strange, warm feeling you have? Happy Hoosier Apr 11 #18

2naSalit

(103,323 posts)
2. I think...
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 08:38 PM
Apr 10

I've seen every one that was televised so far. I remember my brother and I trying to stay up for the length of John Glenn's flight. We were into it.

Tommy Carcetti

(44,565 posts)
3. I remember watching The Right Stuff wishing I had been around for Glenn's flight
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 08:43 PM
Apr 10

I did actually see him return to space in 1999, live and in person. It felt like a small taste of what it must have been like back in 1962.

2naSalit

(103,323 posts)
5. Back then...
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:10 PM
Apr 10

We could only listen on the radio, looked at pictures in the newspapers.

It was a major breakthrough when we were able to actually watch on the teevee machine!

LeftInTX

(34,554 posts)
15. I was in Japan and my mom said John Glenn was orbitting the earth.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 12:07 AM
Apr 11

I ran outside to see his space ship. Of course, he had probably landed already by then. It was early in the morning in Tokyo. I was in 1st grade.

Sequoia

(12,763 posts)
19. I was is first grade also
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:54 PM
Apr 11

And we watched John Glenn that day in the classroom. Those Apollo splashdowns were spectacular to watch. The last one 1972.

gerryatwork

(103 posts)
11. I remember
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:47 PM
Apr 10

recording the entirety of John Glen’s flight directly off the radio on an reel to reel recorder.Those reels are long gone

SCantiGOP

(14,735 posts)
14. Glenn thought he wasn't going to survive
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:07 PM
Apr 10

During re-entry he began to see what he thought were flaming chunks of the heat shield going past his window. It turned out that it was some straps that had not detached, but he said he was waiting to feel the heat as the nose of the craft began to
melt.
That just added to the huge grin he had upon exiting.
And some of the younger folks may not know that he was an excellent six-term liberal Democratic Senator from Ohio. He was a pallbearer for RFK in 68, and later made a run for President.

Tommy Carcetti

(44,565 posts)
16. Yeah, they kept the retro rocket package on...
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:07 AM
Apr 11

…because they were worried the heat shield was loose.

That’s why he only orbited 3 times. He was scheduled to orbit 7.

llmart

(17,658 posts)
6. I am in awe of how many people it takes to make something like this happen.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:45 PM
Apr 10

The Navy dive teams must be the best of the best. What a serious job they have too.

calimary

(90,316 posts)
7. We relished every moment of it!
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:45 PM
Apr 10

I LOVED these events during the U.S. space flight heyday. Hung on every minute of the coverage of every shot.

Just LOVED it! It’s our gateway to humans living in space! Working shifts on orbiting space stations, traveling farther on rockets (next goal for humans: Mars?), colonizing areas not of OUR world…

I hope I live long enough to see at least the beginnings of it.

But, hell, if my body dies before that gets going, maybe my spirit can tag along! (And it’s bound not to take up much room, supplies, OR oxygen onboard!)

AllyCat

(18,911 posts)
8. So fabulous to watch this! I cheered when Wiseman responded after they got through the atmosphere.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:55 PM
Apr 10

So happy for everyone involved. What a great job by an international group of scientists and other wizards who made this so successful!

We really needed this.

FoxNewsSucks

(11,803 posts)
9. I watched nearly all the Apollo missions
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 09:57 PM
Apr 10

It was a national pride thing. We ate space-food sticks, drank Tang, and watched every mission.

Haven't seen anything so much like it until this mission.

Javaman

(65,871 posts)
10. So wonderful.🙂
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:25 PM
Apr 10

Been a long time, since the Gemini/Apollo days.

I was lucky because my neighbor worked for Grumman at the time and they were building the Luna lander. I was friends with his son. My friend had all these really amazing photos from NASA

After Apollo 11 returned, my older brother got a chance to goto to the ticket tape parade for the astronauts. I was so jealous that I couldn’t go.

While we are living through truly insane times, this is such a bright spot for me. It brings back so many memories 🙂

hamsterjill

(17,663 posts)
12. The name.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:57 PM
Apr 10

Jules Bergman.

If you know, you know! It was an exciting era, and although this feat today is amazing, doing it back then - indeed doing MORE because Americans LANDED on the moon - without AI and the computers we have nowadays makes the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs all the more stupendous.

America was so proud of the space program and the astronauts were heroes. Unfortunately, all of the people behind the scenes didn't get much recognition.

I remember that when Apollo 13 was coming back, we skipped school to watch the splashdown and we were all holding our breath.

Gore1FL

(22,962 posts)
13. In 1975, they swore to me that I had just watched the last landing of this nature.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 10:59 PM
Apr 10

The reusable Space Shuttle was the next thing!

LetMyPeopleVote

(180,658 posts)
17. 53 years. One ending... and one beginning. 🌊🚀
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 10:58 AM
Apr 11



In 1972, Apollo 17 touched down in the Pacific — marking the final chapter of humanity’s first journey to the Moon.

For decades, the silence that followed left one question hanging:
Will we ever go back?

Now, more than half a century later, Artemis II is writing the next chapter.
Not as an ending…
but as the start of something bigger.

This time, it’s not just about reaching the Moon.
It’s about staying, exploring deeper, and preparing for what comes next.

Same ocean.
Same splashdown.
Different era.

History didn’t repeat itself —
it evolved. 🌑✨

Happy Hoosier

(9,558 posts)
18. That strange, warm feeling you have?
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 11:22 AM
Apr 11

It’s pride. It’s an admiration of dedication and competence.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»That was the first ever l...