USS John P. Murtha Brings Home Orion Spacecraft After Artemis II Mission

The Navy ship played a critical role in the historic recovery operation off the California coast.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:09pm

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the coordinated efforts of the USS John P. Murtha and NASA teams in the recovery of the Orion spacecraft.The successful recovery of the Orion spacecraft by the USS John P. Murtha marks a major milestone in the next era of human space exploration.San Diego Today

The USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. Navy ship, returned to Naval Base San Diego after successfully retrieving the Orion spacecraft from NASA's Artemis II mission. The carefully coordinated effort between Navy sailors and NASA engineers safely secured the spacecraft shortly after its splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a major milestone in human space exploration.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission represents NASA's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, and the successful recovery of the Orion spacecraft is a significant step forward in the next era of human space exploration. The USS John P. Murtha's role in the operation highlights the vital contributions of California's aerospace industry and the region's importance in both national defense and space travel.

The details

The USS John P. Murtha, named in honor of the late Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha, served as the primary vessel tasked with retrieving the Orion capsule and its crew after reentry. Navy sailors and NASA engineers worked together to safely secure the spacecraft shortly after splashdown, and the recovery operation went smoothly. Once aboard the ship, Orion underwent initial inspections before being transported back to San Diego, where it will be offloaded and prepared for further evaluation by NASA teams.

  • The USS John P. Murtha returned to Naval Base San Diego on Saturday morning (April 12, 2026).
  • The Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday (April 11, 2026).

The players

USS John P. Murtha

A U.S. Navy ship that played a critical role in the recovery of the Orion spacecraft from NASA's Artemis II mission.

Capt. Erik Kenny

The commanding officer of the USS John P. Murtha.

Congressman John P. Murtha

The late Pennsylvania Congressman for whom the USS John P. Murtha is named, known as a champion for the military and a visionary.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California, who praised the state's crucial role in the Artemis II mission.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that oversees the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually pave the way for missions to Mars.

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What they’re saying

“It is a fitting tribute to Congressman Murtha, who dedicated his life to serving our nation, that the ship bearing his name will be integral to this historic moment in space exploration. He was a champion for our military and a visionary. 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

“The crew splashing down off the California coast is a full-circle moment and point of immense pride. Artemis II is a unifying moment for all of us here on Earth that we can shoot for the stars and strive for a brighter future, for all.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

What’s next

The Orion spacecraft will now be offloaded from the USS John P. Murtha and prepared for further evaluation by NASA teams.

The takeaway

The successful recovery of the Orion spacecraft by the USS John P. Murtha represents a major milestone in the Artemis II mission, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and pave the way for future deep-space exploration. This achievement highlights California's crucial role in the nation's space program and the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Navy and NASA.