Four U.S. Navy sailors are set to be the first to greet the astronauts of the Artemis II mission when they splash down in the Pacific Ocean this Friday, about 60 miles off the coast of San Diego, California. This marks the conclusion of a historic ten-day journey into deep space.
The recovery dive medical team, part of the U.S. Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One (EODGRU-1), includes Lieutenant Commander Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman First Class Steve Kapala. Their primary role will be to open the hatch of the Orion capsule, named "Integrity" by its crew, conduct preliminary medical assessments, and help the four astronauts safely exit to an inflatable raft stationed at the side hatch, known as the "front porch."
Each sailor has been specifically assigned to an astronaut: Wang will attend to Christina Koch, Aldridge to Jeremy Hansen, Link to Commander Reid Wiseman, and Kapala to Victor Glover.
According to a statement from the U.S. Fleet Forces Command released on Friday, the team underwent a multi-year training process to prepare for this moment. Recovery operations will be coordinated from the amphibious ship USS John P. Murtha, which will serve as the primary support platform for the mission.
All team members are certified divers and specialists in decompression sickness and undersea medicine, making them ideally suited for the challenging environment of a space splashdown. They come from expeditionary warfare communities, where their usual duties involve ensuring the safety of military divers during high-risk operations.
The backgrounds of each team member add a personal touch to this high-flying story. Wang, from Laguna Beach, California, is a board-certified emergency physician and undersea medical officer since 2024, having joined the Navy in 2021. Link, hailing from Chelsea, Massachusetts, boasts 18 years of diving medicine expertise. Kapala, from Alpena, Michigan, has been practicing diving medicine since 2018 and was inspired by science fiction novels and space films to reach this point.
Aldridge, from Cushing, Oklahoma, belongs to a family with three generations of military service. "Coming from three generations of military service in my family, I am honored to serve as the independent diving chief for this mission. This effort represents the culmination of our training to provide world-class care to the Artemis II crew," he said, marking the first human voyage into deep space in over 50 years.
Understanding the Artemis II Splashdown and Recovery
What is the Artemis II mission?
Artemis II is a mission designed to carry astronauts into deep space, marking the first human venture into such territory in over 50 years. The mission is part of NASA's Artemis program aimed at exploring the Moon and beyond.
Who are the U.S. Navy sailors involved in the recovery operation?
The recovery team comprises Lieutenant Commander Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman First Class Steve Kapala, all part of the U.S. Navy's EODGRU-1.
What are the responsibilities of the recovery dive medical team?
The team's responsibilities include opening the Orion capsule's hatch, conducting initial medical evaluations, and assisting the astronauts in safely exiting to an inflatable raft.