Pacific Ocean. (February 27, 2024): In this photo by MC2 Connor Burns, Sailors assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego lower a rigid hull inflatable boat over the side. The San Diego is participating in NASA’s Underway Recovery Test 11 in preparation for the Artemis II crewed mission. Heralded as the first step to Mars, Artemis II will send four astronauts to orbit the moon aboard the first crewed Orion spacecraft. NASA and the Department of Defense will conduct a series of tests to prepare for eventually establishing a permanent base on the moon, and crewed mission to Mars.

A vital part of this historic effort falls to the U.S. Navy.

Amphibious transport docks, like USS San Diego, have unique capabilities that make them an ideal partner for NASA by providing helicopters, launching, and recovering small boats, and providing advanced medical facilities.

The Navy’s goal is to recover the Artemis crew within less than two hours from splashdown. Once the crew splashes down, a group of Navy divers will approach Orion capsule to ensure it is safe for the astronauts to exit. The divers will then open the spacecraft hatch and help the astronauts exit one by one onto an inflatable “front porch.” This raft wraps around the capsule and allows for the crew to be picked up via helicopter and flown back to the recovery ship.

The ten-day Artemis II mission is scheduled for launch in September 2025.