Apollo Parachute Recovery, Card No 36 (RaceIntoSpace 1971)
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Card No. 36: Apollo Parachute Recovery
The recovery of the Apollo command module appears crude. But the main problem is to dissipate safely the enormous energy which the spacecraft acquires during its return to Earth, and this can only be done by using the atmosphere as a brake.
To prevent the vehicle being destroyed by excess heating, it is formed like a cone. Such shapes cannot, of course be manoeuvred to a conventional kind of landing like an aeroplane.
The three main parachutes open at about 10,000 feet, lowering the spacecraft gently into the water.
