USS John P. Murtha Returns with Orion Spacecraft

Navy ship brings back NASA's Artemis II capsule to Southern California

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A highly textured, abstract painting in earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric shapes and intersecting waveforms, conceptually representing the complex forces and structures involved in the recovery of the Orion spacecraft.The Navy's recovery of the Orion spacecraft marks a significant milestone in NASA's Artemis program, showcasing the collaborative efforts between space exploration and maritime operations.San Diego Today

The USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship, has returned to Naval Base San Diego after successfully retrieving the Orion spacecraft from NASA's Artemis II mission, a significant achievement in human space exploration.

Why it matters

The Orion spacecraft is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The successful recovery of the Orion capsule after its Artemis II mission marks an important step towards future crewed lunar missions.

The details

The USS John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport dock ship, was tasked with recovering the Orion spacecraft following its return from the Artemis II mission, which involved a crewless flight around the Moon. The ship's crew used specialized equipment to safely retrieve the capsule and transport it back to Naval Base San Diego.

  • The USS John P. Murtha returned to Naval Base San Diego on April 11, 2026.

The players

USS John P. Murtha

A U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship responsible for retrieving the Orion spacecraft from NASA's Artemis II mission.

Orion spacecraft

A critical component of NASA's Artemis program, designed to carry astronauts to the Moon and beyond.

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States government agency responsible for the country's civilian space program, including the Artemis missions.

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What’s next

The Orion spacecraft will now undergo further inspection and testing at Naval Base San Diego before being transported to NASA facilities for analysis and preparation for future Artemis missions.

The takeaway

The successful recovery of the Orion spacecraft by the USS John P. Murtha represents a significant milestone in the Artemis program, paving the way for future crewed lunar missions and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on the Moon.