SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — An elite U.S. Navy special operations dive team, helicopter squadron and LPD ship all based out of San Diego will be assisting NASA with recovering the crew of the Artemis II when they end their mission with a splashdown off the San Diego coast, and more details are coming out about how they will be getting the astronauts out of the space capsule and back to land.
As long as the thunderstorms hold off until late Friday into Saturday, as is currently forecast, NASA is expecting the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts to splash down off San Diego at 5:07 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 10, several miles off the coast.
What to know about Artemis II crew’s return to Earth, splashdown off San Diego
The Navy’s amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), based out of Naval Base San Diego, will be the recovery ship for the Orion capsule and its crew when they return to Earth from the 10-day historic Artemis II Moon Mission.
Named in honor of the late and long-serving Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha, the Navy says the amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha has a well deck, helicopter pad, onboard medical facilities and communication capabilities needed to support the mission.
As the Artemis Landing and Recovery team and supporting Department of War personnel approach the culmination of years of training with this splashdown, this mission will help ensure future missions the Moon and Mars are successful.
How San Diego’s Navy divers are preparing for Artemis II crew’s return…