I'm a screenwriter doing a little preliminary research into a potential screenplay, the story of which involves a 'splashdown' event.
I have a few questions I'd like to ask specifically about the capsules used during landing into oceans/large bodies of water. The information out there through Google is surprisingly limited, and I couldn't find many photographs of the interior of any of these.
My initial questions are:
Are the capsules used for splashdowns escapable in an emergency, or do they require external assistance to open the hatch?
Are there any notable features inside these capsules, aside from the seating for astronauts?
How do astronauts communicate with mission control from inside these capsules?
How are these capsules monitored externally? (Can a control room monitor things inside the capsule like vital signs, temperatures, pressures etc remotely?)
How securely are astronauts fastened to their seats within these capsules, and how easily could they unfasten restraints individually if needed?
What kind of information would be visible to astronauts themselves within these capsules?
I appreciate that some of these questions may seem vague or basic, or that it may not be possible to give a comprehensive answer in some cases.
Happy to be pointed in the direction of any helpful online resources. Is there a more suitable sub that can delve into technical areas?
I may have heard that either NASA or another organisation actually offer consultation to assist with accuracy in fiction, but I haven't explored that route yet.
Thanks