October 14, 2024

Splashdown Prep School: Artemis II Crew Takes on Naval Base San Diego

From left (front to back), NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Reid Wiseman, in addition to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, present inside the Vehicle Advanced Demonstrator for Emergency Recovery (VADR) throughout a tour of Naval Base San Diego on July 19, 2023. VADR is a reproduction of the Orion team module that will carry the astronauts around the Moon on Artemis II. Credit: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Samoluk
The Artemis II team– NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen– visited Naval Base San Diego on July 19 ahead of the first Artemis II recovery test in the Pacific Ocean, Underway Recovery Test-10. The test will develop on the success of Artemis I healing and make sure NASA and the Department of Defense personnel can securely recuperate astronauts and their Orion spacecraft after their trip around the Moon on the very first crewed Artemis objective.
NASAs Artemis II astronauts explore the U.S. Navys Defense Distribution Depot Center in San Diego, California, on July 19, 2023. In preparation for the agencys Artemis II crewed objective, NASA and the U.S. Navy will carry out a series of tests to show and assess the procedures, treatments, and hardware utilized in Orion healing operations for crewed lunar objectives.
The crew met recovery team members from NASAs Exploration Ground Systems Program and the Department of Defense to find out more about the healing procedure for their mission, which includes being extracted from the spacecraft after sprinkling down in the Pacific Ocean and being raised through helicopter to the healing ship where they will undergo regular medical checks before returning to shore.
Amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Langenberg, left, discusses to NASA Astronaut U.S. Navy Capt. Reid Wiseman and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, the ships recovery capabilities, July 19, 2023. In preparation for NASAs Artemis II crewed objective, which will send out 4 astronauts in Orion beyond the Moon, NASA and the U.S. Navy will perform a series of tests to demonstrate and examine the procedures, procedures, and hardware utilized in recovery operations for crewed lunar missions. Credit: U.S. Navy Photo
The go to included a walkdown of the ground devices and centers the group utilizes to practice healing treatments along with a walkthrough of the recovery ship. The crew will get involved in full healing testing at sea next year.

From left (front to back), NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, pose inside the Vehicle Advanced Demonstrator for Emergency Recovery (VADR) during a trip of Naval Base San Diego on July 19, 2023. Amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Langenberg, left, discusses to NASA Astronaut U.S. Navy Capt. Reid Wiseman and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, right, the ships healing capabilities, July 19, 2023. In preparation for NASAs Artemis II crewed objective, which will send 4 astronauts in Orion beyond the Moon, NASA and the U.S. Navy will conduct a series of tests to demonstrate and assess the procedures, treatments, and hardware used in healing operations for crewed lunar missions. L.t. j.g Thomas Lampognana, left, discusses amphibious transportation dock ship USS John P. Murthas (LPD 26) helm control console to NASA Astronaut U.S. Navy Capt. Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, July 19, 2023.

L.t. j.g Thomas Lampognana, left, explains amphibious transportation dock ship USS John P. Murthas (LPD 26) helm control console to NASA Astronaut U.S. Navy Capt. Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, July 19, 2023. The U.S. Navy has numerous unique capabilities that make it an ideal partner to support NASA, including its amphibious capabilities with the ability to embark helicopters, launch and recover little boats, three-dimensional air search radar and innovative medical centers.
NASA astronauts Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will venture around the Moon on Artemis II. The approximately 10-day flight will evaluate NASAs fundamental human deep space expedition abilities, the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts and will lead the way to establishing a long-lasting presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.
From left to right, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Hammock Koch, posture with groups from NASAs Exploration Ground Systems Program and sailors from the U.S. Navy assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 throughout a trip of Defense Distribution Depot Center in San Diego, California, on July 19, 2023. Credit: U.S. Navy Photo
Artemis II develops on the success of the uncrewed Artemis I in 2022, when engineers checked NASAs new mega Moon rocket for the very first time and pushed Orion to its limitation to better comprehend how it runs in the severe environment of deep space throughout a 1.4-million mile journey beyond the Moon and back.