| MET | Event / Maneuver | Target Alt | Target ΔV |
|---|
| Deorbit Perigee Altitude | 62.4 km |
| Entry Interface (EI-400k) Speed | 7.82 km/s (Mach 24.8) |
| Peak Atmospheric Deceleration | 3.84 G |
| Peak Stagnation Heat Flux | 118.2 W/cm² |
| Target Landing Zone | Cape Canaveral Atlantic (28.4° N, 79.5° W) |
During the initial proximity operations (within the 200m Keep-Out Sphere and 4km Approach Ellipsoid), motion is calculated using linearized Hill's equations relative to the ISS reference frame. Small radial and along-track velocity impulses cause non-intuitive orbital drift where positive radial delta-V pushes the spacecraft down and forward relative to the target.
Reentry requires precision targeting of the atmospheric flight path angle (γ) at 122 km (EI-400k ft). A flight path angle steeper than -1.8° causes dangerous aerodynamic G-loads exceeding human tolerance and thermal protection thresholds. An angle shallower than -1.1° risks skipping off the upper atmosphere back into an unrecoverable orbit.
Deorbit burn timing determines both longitude of splashdown and cross-range steering requirements. Drogue parachutes deploy at ~5.5 km altitude (18,000 ft) to stabilize the spacecraft through transonic descent, followed by main parachute unfurling at 1.8 km (6,000 ft) to lower splashdown velocity to a gentle 7.2 m/s.