Chelsea Sailor Plays Key Role in Artemis II Splashdown

Navy Corpsman Vlad Link helped open capsule, assess astronauts after historic mission.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:37pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and oranges, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of space exploration.A Chelsea sailor's critical role in the Artemis II splashdown underscores the city's pride and the power of community in shaping ambitious dreams.Chelsea Today

Vlad Link, a United States Navy Sailor from Chelsea, Massachusetts, played a critical role as a member of the dive medical team during NASA's Artemis II splashdown on Friday. Link, a graduate of Chelsea High School, helped open the Orion capsule, assess the astronauts, and safely remove them after they returned to Earth.

Why it matters

Link's participation in the historic Artemis II mission is a source of pride for the Chelsea community, which helped shape his commitment to service and success. His story inspires the next generation of Chelsea students to pursue their dreams through hard work and dedication.

The details

As the Chief Hospital Corpsman and a member of the dive medical team, Link was responsible for crucial tasks during the Artemis II splashdown, including opening the Orion capsule, evaluating the astronauts' health, and safely extracting them from the spacecraft. Link said his training as a Navy diver prepared him for the mission, and he felt honored to represent his hometown of Chelsea.

  • The Artemis II splashdown occurred on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • Link has been with the U.S. Navy for nearly 20 years.

The players

Vlad Link

A United States Navy Sailor from Chelsea, Massachusetts, who served as the Chief Hospital Corpsman and a member of the dive medical team for the Artemis II mission.

Chelsea High School

The high school that Link attended, which helped shape his commitment to service and success.

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What they’re saying

“My small and hardworking community helped me shape my commitment to service that lead me to the U.S. Navy nearly 20 years ago. I started in Chelsea and here I am, unsure how all this has transpired over the past few days.”

— Vlad Link, United States Navy Sailor

“Coming from such a beautiful place, that being away all these years has shown me how Chelsea has gotten better and better and there was no better way to represent. Being a part of the sports and school system there set me up for success.”

— Vlad Link, United States Navy Sailor

“The support has always been there. If they hear an accomplishment they cheer you on, and right now the support coming from Chelsea High, from the city hall, from the the entire city, every person – I'm getting messages, phone calls, that they are thankful and proud that we're representing Chelsea across the entire nation.”

— Vlad Link, United States Navy Sailor

“I would say never stop dreaming. Coming from a one-point-five, one-point-eight square mile city, being here where I am today, I am honored to represent the city of Chelsea. Don't stop dreaming, but dreams come with hard work. You need to work, you need to be committed, you need to stay focused.”

— Vlad Link, United States Navy Sailor

What’s next

Link plans to continue serving in the U.S. Navy and inspiring the next generation of Chelsea students to pursue their dreams through hard work and dedication.

The takeaway

Vlad Link's participation in the historic Artemis II mission is a testament to the power of community and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams. His story serves as an inspiration for the people of Chelsea and a reminder that with commitment and focus, even the most ambitious goals can be achieved.