How do astronauts return to Earth safely from orbit?

Returning from orbit requires a carefully controlled reentry path so the spacecraft does not burn up or bounce back into space. The capsule’s heat shield absorbs the intense heating created as it slams into the upper atmosphere at high speed. Drag slows the vehicle while radio blackout can occur because the surrounding air becomes ionized. Once the capsule reaches lower altitudes and safer speeds, parachutes slow it further for splashdown or landing, depending on the spacecraft design. Capsules like Soyuz, Dragon, and Apollo all rely on this reentry principle, though their recovery methods differ.