San Diego Warship to Recover Artemis II Astronauts

The USS John P. Murtha will play a critical role in the splashdown and recovery of NASA's Artemis II crew.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:09am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts involved in the splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II spacecraft.The USS John P. Murtha's critical role in the recovery of the Artemis II astronauts represents the Navy's integral support for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon.San Diego Today

The San Diego-based USS John P. Murtha amphibious transport dock ship will be at the forefront of recovering the Artemis II astronauts after their spacecraft splashes down in the Pacific Ocean later this week. Navy sailors aboard the ship have been training extensively for this high-stakes mission, which will involve a helicopter squadron tracking the capsule, Navy divers recovering the Orion spacecraft, and the crew evaluating the astronauts upon their return.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's ambitious Artemis program to return humans to the Moon. The USS John P. Murtha's role in the recovery efforts will be crucial to ensuring the safe return of the astronauts and gathering data to support future Artemis missions.

The details

The Orion capsule carrying the four Artemis II astronauts is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean just off the San Diego coast on Friday around 5 p.m. local time. The USS John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport dock ship based in San Diego, has been conducting nonstop training to prepare for the recovery operation. A Navy helicopter squadron will track the capsule as it re-enters the atmosphere, then deliver the astronauts to the ship. Navy divers will also recover the Orion spacecraft and bring it aboard the USS John P. Murtha's deck.

  • The Artemis II astronauts are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 11, 2026 around 5 p.m. local time.
  • The USS John P. Murtha has been conducting extensive training in the lead-up to the recovery mission.

The players

USS John P. Murtha

A San Diego-based amphibious transport dock ship that will play a critical role in recovering the Artemis II astronauts and their spacecraft.

Capt. Erik Kenny

The commanding officer of the USS John P. Murtha, who called the recovery mission a 'fitting tribute' to the ship's namesake, former Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha.

Artemis II Astronauts

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, who will be the first humans to travel beyond low-Earth orbit since the Apollo program.

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What they’re saying

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

— Capt. Erik Kenny, Commanding Officer, USS John P. Murtha

What’s next

Following the successful splashdown and recovery, the USS John P. Murtha will transport the Artemis II astronauts to a nearby naval base for further medical evaluation and debriefing before they are reunited with their families.

The takeaway

The USS John P. Murtha's critical role in the recovery of the Artemis II astronauts represents the Navy's integral support for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the Moon.