Meet the US warship tasked with recovering Artemis II crew upon touchdown

A major moment in space exploration is now just days away, and a San Diego warship is preparing to take center stag. As NASA’s Artemis II mission nears its return, the USS John P. Murtha is set to play a critical role in bringing the astronauts safely back after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The recovery operation is expected to unfold off the San Diego coast later this week.

The countdown is now on for one of the most dramatic moments of the Artemis II mission, with the USS John P. Murtha preparing for the astronauts’ return to Earth.

The San Diego-based amphibious transport dock will be positioned off the Pacific coast to recover the Orion capsule and its four astronauts after splashdown, expected just after 5 p.m. Friday, as per a report by The New York Post.


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How will the recovery mission work?

According to Navy officials, sailors aboard the warship have been carrying out nonstop drills ahead of the operation. A Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island will first track the capsule as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. Once the spacecraft lands in the Pacific, the helicopters will retrieve the four astronauts and transport them directly to the ship for medical evaluation.

At the same time, Navy divers will enter the ocean to recover the Orion capsule, securing it and bringing it onto the ship’s deck, as per a report by The New York Post.

The Navy said the vessel has “unique advantages” that will help recover both the capsule and valuable mission data for future Artemis flights.

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Why is the USS John P. Murtha important?

The ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Erik Kenny, described the mission as “a fitting tribute” to the vessel’s namesake, Congressman John P. Murtha.

“We are honored to carry on his legacy by supporting NASA and the Artemis II mission,” Kenny said.

The recovery operation is also expected to provide critical data that will help improve astronaut and capsule recovery procedures for upcoming Artemis missions, as per a report by The New York Post.

What record did Artemis II just break?

The splashdown comes shortly after a historic achievement for the Artemis II crew. On Monday, the astronauts travelled farther from Earth than any humans in history, surpassing the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970 during its lunar flyby.

That milestone has added even greater significance to the upcoming return, making the San Diego recovery mission a key chapter in NASA’s next era of deep-space exploration.

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FAQs:

Q: Which ship will recover the astronauts?
The USS John P. Murtha.

Q: When is splashdown expected?
Just after 5 p.m. Friday.