Trihexia

That was key. I had to drop low and slow and have the pod come to a stop about within 1.2 km. It showed the vessel was recoverable and things stayed there till I was past 5km and I crashed into a mountain. But dropping it low was the answer.

I've been trying to make a plane that drops kerbals and science jr. pods to get science all over Kerbin. but the pods despawn over time. what can I do to prevent that? This is what I made.