NASA and DoD Complete Initial Recovery Test for Artemis II Mission

Helicopters from the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, known as the “Wildcards,” were seen flying over the Orion Crew Module Test Article (CMTA) carrying American flags after finishing operations during an Artemis II mission simulation in NASA’s Underway Recovery Test 10 (URT-10) near San Diego. Photo credit goes to NASA’s Kenny Allen.

In collaboration with the Department of Defense, NASA has finalized the primary recovery test for Artemis II, focusing on simulating the extraction of astronauts and retrieval of the spacecraft. This significant step is part of a series of tests preparing for the Artemis II mission, symbolizing a crucial phase in future human exploration of deep space and lunar landings.

On August 1, NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense successfully undertook the inaugural recovery test for the manned Artemis II mission near San Diego. Throughout the test, the team rehearsed the extraction of the four astronauts who will circumnavigate the Moon and the recovery of the Orion crew module from the Pacific Ocean following landing.

Building on Previous Experience

Drawing from the previous successful recovery of the Orion after Artemis I, and adding a crew for Artemis II, the recovery teams are updating their schedules and methods. These changes aim to ensure the astronauts are safely transported to the recovery vessel within two hours of touching down.

During this test, NASA’s landing and recovery team employed a new crew module test article, with team members acting as the astronauts for the mission, to effectively showcase the updated procedures.

A full-scale replica of the Orion spacecraft, known as the Crew Module Test Article (CMTA), was used during NASA’s URT-10 in the Pacific Ocean. This practice allowed the team to simulate the recovery of astronauts back to the recovery ship safely. The photograph was taken by NASA’s Frank Michaux.

Focus on Safety for Astronauts

Lili Villarreal, NASA’s landing and recovery director, emphasized that the main priority is to guarantee the safety of the Artemis II crew, not only around the Moon but also upon their return to Earth. She praised the NASA and Department of Defense teams for their extraordinary efforts to ensure the astronauts’ safe return.

Procedures After the Mission

Once the crew lands in the water, Navy divers will approach the Orion to verify its safety, assist the astronauts in exiting onto an inflatable raft known as the “front porch,” and airlift them to a recovery ship. The Orion module will then be secured and towed back to the ship, similar to the procedure followed during Artemis I.

Preparing for Upcoming Recovery Tests

The Artemis II crew, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, have met with the recovery team at Naval Base San Diego to become acquainted with the recovery vessel and the testing process. They will be part of a future recovery test next year for mission training.

Continuous Tests and Future Endeavors

The URT-10 marked the first instance NASA and its partners from the Navy and Air Force tested their Artemis II recovery strategies, and it forms the tenth of several demonstrations off the Californian coast. Lessons learned will be applied to future tests to ensure readiness for the Artemis II crew’s safe return.

The approximately ten-day Artemis II mission is set to evaluate NASA’s core capabilities for human deep-space exploration, using the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft with astronauts. This mission will lay the groundwork for subsequent lunar missions, including landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon.

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• NASA’s Artemis Program
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Orion Spacecraft