Orion Recovery Test

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 20, 2014) Navy divers secure NASA's Orion crew module inside the well deck of the USS San Diego. U.S. Navy photo by Gary Keen.

Recovering the capsule after spalshdown is the last part of any trip into space, at least any American trip. Although it is not dramatic as the launch, it provides just as many opportunities to screw up and die. Once the capsule is in the water it should be a fairly simple operation to secure it. Practice ensures that it is. As long as it doesn't sink.