Space flight is messy. We’ve spent decades watching sleek sci-fi movies where ships glide into docks with zero friction, but the reality of a capsule screaming through the atmosphere at 17,000 miles per hour is a lot more chaotic. If you’re checking your watch and wondering what time are the astronauts landing today, the answer is rarely a single, static minute. It’s a window.
Today, January 17, 2026, the crew is currently strapped into their seats, waiting for the laws of physics to do the heavy lifting. NASA and SpaceX have confirmed that the primary undocking happened earlier this morning, setting the stage for a splashdown off the coast of Florida.
Right now, the target splashdown time is 12:42 PM EST.
But wait. Don't set your microwave timer to that and walk away. Mission Control at Johnson Space Center keeps a constant eye on upper-level winds and wave heights in the Gulf of Mexico. If those gusts kick up just a few knots too high, the whole thing slides. We've seen it happen dozens of times—crews stay in orbit for an extra two days just because a localized storm popped up near Pensacola.
The Narrow Window of Re-entry
Everything hinges on the "deorbit burn." This is the moment the spacecraft fires its thrusters to slow down just enough to fall out of orbit. For today’s return, that burn is scheduled to happen roughly an hour before the landing. Once that happens, they are committed. There is no turning back, no "loitering" in the air.
Gravity takes over.
The heat shield will have to handle temperatures reaching 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a brutal process. While we sit on our couches watching a grainy 4K feed, the astronauts are pulling about 4 or 5 Gs. That's like having an elephant sit on your chest while you're trying to breathe. Honestly, it’s a miracle the hardware holds up as well as it does.
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What Time Are the Astronauts Landing Today: The Detailed Schedule
If you want to follow along with the live telemetry, you need to know the milestones. NASA TV usually starts their continuous coverage about two hours before the actual splashdown.
- 11:45 AM EST: Deorbit burn begins. This lasts for several minutes and changes the craft's trajectory from a circle to a literal free-fall.
- 12:15 PM EST: Plasma blackout. This is the part that gives engineers grey hair. For about six to seven minutes, the ionized gas around the capsule blocks all radio signals. It’s total silence.
- 12:38 PM EST: Drogue parachute deployment. These small chutes stabilize the craft before the main ones come out.
- 12:42 PM EST: Splashdown.
Recovery teams are already on the move. The Megan and Shannon recovery ships (named after NASA astronauts, by the way) are positioned in the "box"—the designated landing zone. They have to get there fast. Not just to get the crew out, but to ensure the capsule stays stable in the swells.
Why the Location Matters as Much as the Time
The "where" is just as volatile as the "when." Today's primary site is just off the coast of Tallahassee/Panama City. However, there are seven potential landing sites scattered around the Florida peninsula. If a rogue weather system develops, Mission Control can pivot to a site in the Atlantic near Jacksonville or down south near the Keys.
You’ve probably noticed that splashdowns usually happen in the ocean now, whereas the Space Shuttle used to land on a runway like a massive, awkward glider. Why the change back to water? It’s simpler. Water is a giant, forgiving cushion. Mostly. Using parachutes and a splashdown allows the spacecraft to be lighter because it doesn't need heavy landing gear or wings.
Tracking the Live Telemetry and Video Feeds
Don't just rely on Twitter (or X) for updates. The delay is annoying.
The best way to see exactly what time are the astronauts landing today is the official NASA YouTube channel or the SpaceX website. They provide a "heads-up display" on the screen that shows the capsule’s altitude and velocity in real-time. Watching that velocity number drop from 17,000 mph to 15 mph in less than half an hour is a wild experience.
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It’s also worth following Dr. Jonathan McDowell on social media. He’s an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics who tracks orbital mechanics with terrifying precision. He often posts updates on the exact orbital path before NASA even puts out a press release.
What the Crew Experiences During Those Final Minutes
Imagine being in a tin can that's on fire. That’s the vibe.
The transition from weightlessness back to Earth’s gravity is jarring. After months on the International Space Station (ISS), the astronauts’ bodies have forgotten how to support their own weight. Their inner ears are a mess. Most of them describe the landing as "a series of car crashes" followed by a very dizzying boat ride.
Once the capsule hits the water, the recovery swimmers jump out of helicopters to "collar" the craft. They check for toxic propellant leaks—specifically nitrogen tetroxide—before the hatch is ever opened. If you see the recovery team wearing what looks like gas masks, don't panic. That’s standard protocol.
How to Prepare for the Viewing
If you're hosting a small watch party or just tuning in at your desk, keep a few things in mind.
The "blackout" period usually happens right when the capsule is at its most luminous, glowing like a fireball. This is when the footage is often the best, captured by long-range infrared cameras on NASA planes. If the feed cuts out or gets choppy, stay patient. It’s just the physics of the atmosphere messing with the signal.
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Also, keep an eye on the "main chutes." There are four of them. If only three open, the crew is still safe—the system is designed with that redundancy—but it definitely makes the landing a bit more "sporty."
Beyond Today: The Future of Returns
We’re getting used to this, aren't we? Space travel is starting to feel routine. But every time we ask what time are the astronauts landing today, we should remember that this is still the most dangerous part of the mission. More accidents happen during launch and re-entry than at any other time.
Today's landing is a bridge to the Artemis missions. The data gathered from this specific splashdown—how the heat shield wore down, how the crew handled the G-loads—is being fed directly into the designs for the missions that will eventually bring humans back from the Moon. Those re-entries will be even faster and hotter.
Actionable Steps for Today's Splashdown
To make sure you don't miss the window, here is how you should handle the next few hours:
- Sync your clock: Check the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) social media accounts thirty minutes before the scheduled 12:42 PM EST splashdown. They will post if the "Go/No-Go" poll for the deorbit burn was successful.
- Monitor the weather: Use a standard maritime weather app to look at the "Sea State" in the Gulf of Mexico. If waves are over 7 feet, expect a delay.
- Watch the "Burn": At roughly 11:45 AM EST, confirm the deorbit burn is complete. Once that engine fires, the landing time is basically locked in.
- Stay for the "Egress": Don't turn off the TV once they hit the water. The process of extracting the astronauts takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Watching them try to stand up for the first time in months is a powerful reminder of what they’ve actually sacrificed for science.
The crew is coming home. The clock is ticking. Get your screens ready.