San Diego Warship to Recover Artemis II Astronauts After Splashdown

USS John P. Murtha will retrieve crew and capsule off California coast on Friday

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:14am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and intersecting waveforms in soft, flat colors against a clean background, conceptually representing the complex systems and forces involved in the recovery of the Artemis II spacecraft.The intricate recovery operation for the Artemis II spacecraft will rely on the specialized capabilities of the USS John P. Murtha and its crew to safely retrieve the astronauts and capsule off the California coast.San Diego Today

The U.S. Navy's San Diego-based amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha will be deployed to recover the Artemis II astronauts after their spacecraft splashes down off the coast of San Diego later this week, the Navy announced on Monday. The ship and its helicopter squadron will track the Orion capsule's re-entry, recover the four astronauts, and transport the spacecraft back to the ship's deck.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the moon. The successful recovery of the astronauts and spacecraft will provide valuable data to ensure future Artemis missions can safely retrieve crews from lunar orbit.

The details

Sailors assigned to the USS John P. Murtha have been undergoing specialized training to prepare for the recovery operation. The ship has unique capabilities that will assist NASA, including the ability to retrieve the Orion capsule from the water and transport it back to the ship. A helicopter squadron from Naval Air Station North Island will also support the mission by tracking the capsule's descent.

  • The Artemis II spacecraft is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday, April 11, 2026 at around 5:15 PM local time.
  • The USS John P. Murtha will be deployed to the recovery site to retrieve the astronauts and capsule.

The players

USS John P. Murtha

An amphibious transport dock ship based in San Diego, California that will lead the recovery operation for the Artemis II astronauts.

Capt. Erik Kenny

The commanding officer of the USS John P. Murtha, who stated the mission is a 'fitting tribute' to the ship's namesake, Congressman John P. Murtha.

NASA

The U.S. space agency overseeing the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft around the Moon.

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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 recovery of the Artemis II crew and spacecraft, the USS John P. Murtha will transport the Orion capsule back to shore where it will undergo further inspection and analysis by NASA engineers.

The takeaway

The recovery of the Artemis II astronauts by the USS John P. Murtha represents a critical logistical and operational milestone for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon. The Navy's specialized training and capabilities will help ensure the safe return of the crew and provide valuable data to support future lunar missions.