SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — On Saturday afternoon, Navy and Air Force leaders spoke to the media about the successful recovery efforts of the four astronauts and the Artemis 2 capsule, which splashed down off the coast of San Diego on Friday.
The USS John P. Murtha arrived at Naval Base San Diego carrying the Orion capsule used in the mission to the moon. Military officials said everything went as planned while retrieving the capsule.
Four leaders of the mission spoke during the news conference: U.S. Navy Capt. Erik J. Kenny, commanding officer of USS John P. Murtha U.S. Navy Diver Chief Chase McCain, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Ringelstein, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Pieper, Air Force representative
For the sailors of the USS John P. Murtha, the recovery was a moment of relief after years of planning and training with a model similar to the Orion.
"When we finally saw the capsule come down, we saw the chutes open up, it's an emotional moment,"Capt. Erik J. Kenny said.
Sailors not only got to see the capsule in person, but they also helped NASA finish the Artemis 2 mission.
"There's not enough words in the dictionary to express the emotion of just seeing a close up and all the work, all the effort that our team put in to get here and get this close," Kenny said.
From simulations to open water, Kenny said the crew prepared for every possible situation.
"We trained, so that when it was game time, we were as cool and collected as I've seen the team," Kenny said.
When the Orion splashed down off the coast, the recovery operation performed exactly as designed.
"The crew was safely recovered, the spacecraft was secured, and every element of the recovery operation performed exactly as designed," Lt. Col. Kevin Pieper.
San Diego and the Artemis mission are no strangers. The Navy has supported astronaut recovery for more than 60 years.
"The Navy has been tied to the mission of astronaut recovery since 1959 with Mercury and Gemini and Apollo. So the opportunity for a ship here, a San Diego base, the USS John P. Murtha, to be part of the recovery, it means so much," Capt. Kenney said.
"In the end, success isn't just reaching the moon. Success is bringing our astronauts home safely," Kenny said.
Officials noted the recovery means a lot to both the ship and the entire San Diego community.
"The goal is to keep launching and keep integrating with the United States Navy and NASA so we can get to the moon eventually," he said.
Watch the video in the player above for the full news conference.
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