FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2026 Release No. 2026-04-10
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –– U.S. Space Command, in partnership with NASA, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Air Forces Space, successfully recovered the crewed Orion spacecraft from the Pacific Ocean and facilitated the four astronauts’ safe return, April 10, 2026, following Artemis II’s historic mission around the Moon.
NASA launched Artemis II aboard the Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 1, 2026. In addition to taking humanity farther into space than ever before, the mission served as a flight test for future crewed lunar landings and NASA’s planning and preparations for eventual missions to Mars.
The Amphibious Transport Dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), a Navy asset assigned to Commander, Third Fleet, coordinated with NASA and AFSPACE to recover the capsule in the Pacific Ocean. USINDOPACOM is the lead maritime commander in support of recovery operations, providing unique U.S. Department of War recovery, rescue, retrieval, and salvage capabilities.
As USSPACECOM’s air component, AFSPACE supports NASA and executes the Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) mission through its Detachment 3. This partnership dates back to the contingency and emergency support for Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo; the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project; and the Space Shuttle Program, and continues today with the International Space Station/Soyuz Program; the Orion Program; and the Commercial Crew Program.
As the Department of War’s manager for Human Space Flight Operations, U.S. Space Command coordinates global support for testing, training, development and operational mission events associated with NASA’s Artemis program. USSPACECOM also provides spacecraft tracking and airspace deconfliction using ground, aircraft, and ship-based radars.
Media queries should be sent to U.S. Space Command Public Affairs Office at 719-554-3478 or
USSPACECOM.PA.Workflow@us.af.mil.
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