Expeditionary Strike Group THREE - ESG-3

21/04/2026

🚀🌒 Integrity, arriving! 🌊

After an incredible journey around the Moon, the Artemis II astronauts returned to Earth and were met by U.S. Navy Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 and HSC-23 Wildcards before arriving aboard USS John P Murtha - LPD 26.

The night before splashdown, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chief of Astronauts and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Tingle addressed the recovery team to discuss the gravity of the operation.

"They say we stand on the shoulders of giants. Tomorrow, the crew of John P. Murtha becomes giants.”

Bravo Zulu to the Navy recovery teams and the Artemis II crew on this monumental achievement, paving the way for the future of space exploration! ✨

Read the full story here:

The U.S. Navy, in partnership with NASA and U.S. Space Command, recovered the Orion space capsule and its four-person crew from the Pacific Ocean, April 10, marking the conclusion of the historic

12/04/2026

The astronauts. Their ride around the Moon.

The Artemis II astronauts pose for a group photo after viewing their Orion spacecraft — which they named Integrity — in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha following their splashdown.

12/04/2026

10/04/2026

From lunar orbit to ocean splashdown, the U.S. Navy is poised for a heroic homecoming.

When the Artemis II crew returns from their historic 10-day journey around the moon, the very first faces they see will be the highly-skilled and mission-ready faces of U.S. Navy Sailors!

Meet the elite dive medical team who get the honor of cracking open the Orion capsule: Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala. These Sailors are the tip of the spear in expeditionary, undersea medicine.

Their mission: to be the first ones in, conduct initial medical checks, and safely help NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, out of the capsule after their incredible voyage.

This isn't a job for just anyone. This team consists of certified divers and undersea medical experts who have trained for years for this exact moment.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala said it best: “I grew up reading sci-fi novels and watching space movies, never thinking that I would play a part in a recovery mission like this. It is surreal to play a part in safely recovering the astronauts... an effort that really makes you realize this team is bigger than just the four of us.”

After more than 50 years, humans have returned to deep space, and the U.S. Navy is there to bring them home safely. This is what making history looks like!



Read more: https://necc.navy.afpims.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article-View/Article/4456180/first-contact-meet-the-dive-medical-recovery-team-of-artemis-ii/

06/04/2026

U.S. Navy 🤝 NASA Artemis

Amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is slated to serve as the recovery ship for the Orion spacecraft and its crew upon their return from the historic Artemis II mission.

01/01/2026

As we close out 2025, we’re proud to reflect on a year defined by teamwork, readiness, and service, while honoring 250 years of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

From training and exercises across the fleet to real-world operations around the world, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Sailors and Marines met every challenge with professionalism, resilience, and commitment to the mission.

As we turn the page to a new year, we carry forward the legacy of those who came before us and the momentum built in 2025.

Here’s to the next chapter. ⚓🇺🇸

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