Artemis II Crew Returns from Historic Lunar Flyby, Welcomed by Navy

The Artemis II mission has marked a historic return with its four-person crew safely landing back on Earth, greeted by four U.S. Navy sailors. This mission, which was NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years, aimed to gain insights into life support systems and spacecraft functionality, laying the groundwork for future lunar and Mars missions.

The Journey and the Historic Return

The Artemis II crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, completed a 10-day mission around the moon. The crew included the first woman and the first person of color to journey into deep space. Their spacecraft, the Orion capsule, successfully splashed down near San Diego at 8:07 p.m. on April 10, marking the completion of their groundbreaking mission.

The Artemis II crew – (from left) Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Pilot Victor Glover, and Commander Reid Wiseman – pause for a group photo inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home. (NASA)

Meet the Navy’s Dive Medical Team

Upon splashdown, the first individuals to open the Orion capsule weren’t astronauts but Navy sailors: Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala. This dive medical team conducted the initial assessments and ensured the astronauts’ safe exit from the capsule.

U.S. Navy divers and Artemis II astronauts aboard an inflatable raft are approached by helicopters and lifted away to the recovery ship after egressing NASA’s Orion spacecraft. (NASA James Blair)

The Record-Breaking Flight

Launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, the Artemis II mission set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans, reaching 248,655 miles from Earth on April 6. This surpassed the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Comprehensive Training and Dedication

The Navy team exemplified the culmination of extensive training in dive medicine and emergency care. Lt. Cmdr. Wang, who led the team, expressed the honor of providing care to the Artemis II crew. Likewise, Aldridge, the first to make contact with the astronauts, highlighted the mission as a testament to Navy Diving and medicine’s dedication.

Astronauts on the USS John P. Murtha — NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, on the USS John P. Murtha. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Members of the dive team, including Vlad Link and Steve Kapala, echoed sentiments of pride and surrealism in participating in such a historic mission. Kapala noted the realization of being part of a mission that extends beyond the team, emphasizing the broader impact and legacy of their contribution.