Orion Spacecraft Displayed on USS John P. Murtha After Artemis II Moon Mission

The capsule and crew arrived at Naval Base San Diego following a 10-day journey around the moon.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 6:10pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Orion spacecraft's journey around the moon.The return of the Orion spacecraft after the successful Artemis II mission signals a new era of international cooperation and deep space exploration.San Diego Today

The USS John P. Murtha arrived at Naval Base San Diego on April 11, 2026, delivering the Orion spacecraft and the crew of the Artemis II mission after their return to Earth. The Artemis II mission featured a four-person crew representing both the United States and Canada, who completed a 10-day journey around the moon.

Why it matters

The return of the Artemis II crew marked the first time American astronauts have splashed down in the ocean since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, signaling a new era of deep space exploration. The mission also highlighted international cooperation in space during a period of heightened global tensions.

The details

The Orion spacecraft and its crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at 8:07 p.m. Eastern time on April 10, 2026. Following the splashdown, the astronauts were retrieved by helicopter and transported to the USS John P. Murtha, where they underwent medical evaluations before being taken to shore. Navy divers then recovered the Orion capsule, named Integrity, and transported it to the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha for exhibition.

  • The Artemis II mission launched in April 2026.
  • The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on April 10, 2026 at 8:07 p.m. Eastern time.
  • The USS John P. Murtha arrived at Naval Base San Diego on April 11, 2026, delivering the Orion spacecraft and the crew.

The players

Artemis II Crew

A four-person crew representing both the United States and Canada, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

USS John P. Murtha

A San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship that was commissioned in 2016 and is named after the late U.S. Representative John P. Murtha, a Vietnam veteran who served Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1974 to 2010.

Orion Spacecraft

The Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, that was used for the Artemis II mission and recovered by Navy divers after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

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What’s next

The Orion spacecraft will remain on display in the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha at Naval Base San Diego for the public to view.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission, which featured international cooperation and the first American ocean splashdown since the Apollo era, represents a significant milestone in the renewed push for deep space exploration and the continued advancement of human spaceflight capabilities.