5 Critical Phases Of A SpaceX Dragon Splashdown: What Happened Today, December 12, 2025?

While there is no scheduled SpaceX Dragon splashdown on this date, December 12, 2025, the continuous cycle of orbital missions means the world is always on the lookout for the next dramatic return from space. The search for "splashdown of SpaceX today" reflects the high public interest in the final, most critical phase of a Dragon mission, whether it’s ferrying astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) or bringing back vital scientific cargo.

The most recent major returns—the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crewed flight and the CRS-31 cargo resupply mission—provide the freshest context for what a modern SpaceX splashdown entails. These missions successfully demonstrated the reliability of the Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon spacecraft, setting the stage for future returns like the highly anticipated Crew-10 mission. Understanding the precise sequence of events, from undocking to final recovery, is key to appreciating the engineering marvel of these reusable capsules.

The Latest Crewed Return: Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) Crew Profile

The most recent high-profile crewed splashdown involved the Ax-4 mission, a private astronaut flight managed by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. The crew's safe return in July 2025 highlighted the robust capabilities of the Crew Dragon capsule. This mission was particularly notable for hosting astronauts from three different nations on their first government-sponsored flights to the ISS.

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Ax-4 Crew Members: A Profile in Spaceflight

The four-person crew of the Ax-4 mission spent an extended period aboard the orbital outpost, conducting crucial research and technology demonstrations before their return to Earth.

• Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA): A former NASA astronaut and veteran of multiple spaceflights, Whitson commanded her fifth overall mission to space. Her experience was critical in navigating the complex undocking and re-entry procedures.
• Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, India): A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and an ISRO astronaut, Shukla's participation marked India's significant return to human spaceflight.
• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Mission Specialist, Poland): Representing Poland, Uznański-Wiśniewski's flight was a milestone for the nation's involvement in the Commercial Crew Program.
• Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist, Hungary): Kapu's flight realized Hungary's first government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in decades, underscoring the international nature of the ISS.

The successful splashdown of the Ax-4 crew off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean reaffirmed the safety protocols of the Crew Dragon design, paving the way for further private spaceflight endeavors.

The 5 Critical Phases of a Dragon Splashdown

Whether it’s a Crew Dragon or the robotic Cargo Dragon C208 (like the one used for the recent CRS-31 mission), the re-entry and splashdown process follows a meticulously planned sequence of events. The CRS-31 mission, which returned vital scientific experiments and hardware off the coast of Florida just a few days from this date, serves as a perfect example of this process.

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1. Undocking and Separation

The mission begins its final phase with the undocking maneuver from the International Space Station. For the CRS-31 mission, the Cargo Dragon spacecraft detached from the ISS, carefully backing away using its onboard thrusters. This process requires precise timing and coordination with the ISS crew and mission control teams in Houston and Hawthorne. The spacecraft then performs a series of departure burns to move safely away from the orbital outpost.

2. The Deorbit Burn

This is arguably the most critical maneuver. Once the Dragon is positioned correctly, it fires its Draco thrusters in a long, sustained "deorbit burn" on the opposite side of its direction of travel. This crucial burn slows the spacecraft down just enough to drop its perigee (lowest point of orbit) into the Earth's atmosphere. Without this precise burn, the capsule would simply remain in orbit. Mission Control carefully monitors weather conditions at the targeted splashdown zone before committing to this burn.

3. Atmosphere Re-entry and Communications Blackout

As the Dragon capsule hits the upper layers of the atmosphere, friction generates immense heat, creating a superheated plasma sheath around the vehicle. The capsule’s PICA-X heat shield—a proprietary SpaceX material—is designed to withstand temperatures up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. During this intense re-entry phase, the plasma temporarily blocks radio signals, resulting in a brief "communications blackout" that can last several minutes, a tense period for the recovery teams.

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4. Parachute Deployment Sequence

As the Dragon descends through the lower atmosphere, the parachute deployment sequence is initiated. This multi-step process is crucial for slowing the capsule to a safe terminal velocity for water landing.

• Drogue Parachutes: First, two small drogue parachutes are deployed to stabilize the capsule and slow it down from supersonic speeds.
• Main Parachutes: The drogues are then jettisoned, and four massive main parachutes unfurl. These are the primary braking system, slowing the capsule to a gentle descent speed of about 15-20 mph (24-32 kph) for the final water landing.

5. Splashdown and Recovery Operations

The capsule splashes down in one of the designated zones, typically in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida (for cargo missions like CRS-31) or the Gulf of Mexico, or in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California (as was the case for Ax-4). A dedicated fleet of SpaceX recovery ships, often including the specialized vessels named GO Searcher or GO Navigator, rushes to the site. The recovery team, which includes US Coast Guard personnel, works quickly to secure the capsule, retrieve the crew (for Crew Dragon missions), and hoist the spacecraft onto the ship's deck. This timely recovery ensures the astronauts receive immediate medical attention and that the sensitive scientific data and cargo are safely offloaded.

The Future of Dragon Returns: Crew-10 and Beyond

The successful execution of splashdowns like Ax-4 and CRS-31 solidifies SpaceX's role as a cornerstone of the Commercial Crew Program and Commercial Resupply Services. Looking ahead, the next major milestone is the return of the Crew-10 mission, which is targeted for splashdown in August 2025. Each successful return adds to the operational experience of the reusable Dragon capsule, which is essential for NASA's long-term plans for the ISS and future deep-space exploration. The Dragon spacecraft, and its consistent, safe return to Earth, remains a vital link in humanity's access to low-Earth orbit, ensuring that the critical work done by astronauts and scientists in space can be safely returned for study on the ground.