A Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 helicopter enters Talofofo Bay during a search for a missing spearfisherman on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Fortunately the man was located and in good health with no emergency health care needed, said GFD spokesman Kevin Reilly.Guam Fire Department 04
San Diego, California – Off the coast of San Diego, NASA and the U.S. Navy are conducting joint recovery drills in preparation for Artemis II, the first NASA mission in over 50 years to send astronauts toward the Moon.
Known as Underway Recovery Test 12, the exercise is designed to ensure the safe splashdown and recovery of the Artemis II crew after their more than 600,000-mile journey to the Moon and back. The mission is expected to launch in the coming months and marks the first crewed flight under NASA’s Artemis program.
“This exercise is vital to the success of the Artemis II mission,” said Liliana Villarreal, NASA’s Recovery Director. “We ensure that every team member is prepared for any eventuality, guaranteeing the safety of our astronauts.”
Artemis II will send astronauts roughly 4,600 miles beyond the far side of the Moon, making them the first humans to travel that far into space. After reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, the Orion capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean about 60 miles off Southern California, between Catalina Island and San Clemente.
The recovery drills involve both daytime and nighttime scenarios to simulate real-life splashdown conditions. Teams use inflatable rafts to approach and extract astronauts from the capsule, coordinating closely to ensure quick and safe operations.
The U.S. Navy’s USS Somerset, an amphibious transport ship, plays a central role in the recovery effort, providing the equipment and environment necessary for the complex task. The collaboration between NASA and the Department of Defense has long been a key part of space mission support.
Artemis II follows the successful unmanned Artemis I mission, which launched in 2022. The third phase, Artemis III, is planned to be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA ultimately hopes to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon, including construction of a lunar space station known as the Gateway.
Officials say these recovery drills are a crucial step toward making that long-term vision a reality.
