What happened after the Artemis II spacecraft splashed down?

After splashing down, five airbags on the Orion capsule inflated to keep it stable while recovery personnel tracked it in the Pacific Ocean.

How are the Artemis II astronauts recovered from the ocean?

Navy divers will secure the Orion capsule, and astronauts will exit onto an inflatable platform to be airlifted by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha.

Where will the Artemis II spacecraft and crew go after recovery?

The astronauts will be flown to the USS John P. Murtha for medical evaluations before returning to shore and heading to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, with the spacecraft also returning to Houston.

Home / Science / Splashdown Success: Orion Capsule Meets Pacific Waves

Splashdown Success: Orion Capsule Meets Pacific Waves

11 Apr

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Summary

Four astronauts are bobbing in the Pacific after a searing re-entry.
Airbags reoriented the capsule and will keep it stable in rough seas.
Navy divers will secure the capsule for astronaut and hardware recovery.

Splashdown Success: Orion Capsule Meets Pacific Waves

The Artemis II spacecraft has completed its journey, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.

Following re-entry through temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the Orion capsule deployed five airbags to ensure stability and reorientation on the water's surface.

Recovery teams from NASA and the U.S. Navy are actively tracking the capsule and other jettisoned hardware, including parachutes, in the ocean.

Navy divers will conduct a safety assessment before attaching stabilizing equipment and an inflatable platform to the capsule. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will then exit onto this platform to be individually airlifted by helicopter to the USS John P. Murtha.

This crew recovery process is anticipated to conclude within two hours of splashdown. Subsequently, the recovery team will tow the Orion capsule to the USS John P. Murtha for transport. The astronauts will undergo medical evaluations aboard the ship before heading to shore and ultimately to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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