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U.S. Navy divers, hooked up to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, conduct a hazardous materials detection sweep of the Artemis II crew module after its return from its lunar mission on April 10, 2026. (David Rowe/U.S. Navy)
Six Navy photographers have been among the many first to seize the Artemis II astronauts’ homecoming. Though the sailors have returned to their common duties, they nonetheless take into consideration their mission.
“When people see our photos, I hope they feel like they are seeing history in the making,” MC2 Kenneth Melseth stated this week.
From the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha, Melseth and his colleagues have been in place to cowl each stage of the astronauts’ return on April 10 utilizing picture and video.
On a restoration boat transferring throughout the Pacific Ocean, MC2 David Rowe watched the Orion capsule parachute down from the sky as Navy and NASA groups moved in to start restoration operations.
“I’ll never forget hearing the sonic boom as the capsule reentered the atmosphere, watching it splash down, and racing over by [the] boat,” stated Rowe, a Navy dive photographer stationed at Naval Command in San Diego. He was among the many first to seize the hatch opening and the astronauts rising.
The sailors have photographed many particular assignments throughout their careers, however all of them agree that this one stands out as probably the most significant.
“Taking photos that will go down in history is a huge honor,” stated MC2 August Clawson, who serves with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group ONE in Coronado, Calif.
The different photographers included: MCSN Matthew Green, stationed on the USS Carl Vinson; MC3 Elyssia Rodriguez, stationed on the USS Carl Vinson; and MC1 Charles Scudella III, with Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego.
As Rowe captured the capsule from the water, the opposite sailors stood on the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha, ready for the helicopters carrying the astronauts to land.
“All I could think about was how badly I didn’t want to mess this up,” stated Melseth, who’s stationed on the USS America in San Diego. “This was likely the best chance I would ever have to document history and leave my own mark on it.”
Artemis II was NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby mission in additional than 50 years, sending 4 astronauts on a 10-day journey across the moon. It launched on April 1. The crew included commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor J. Glover Jr., and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
Glover is a captain within the Navy who deployed in assist of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wiseman is a retired Navy captain who deployed in assist of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“The gravity of this mission, no pun intended, made it special to me. I was one of the few hundred people that got to take part in documenting the Navy’s recovery of the crew and capsule,” Rodriguez stated.
In the times main as much as the astronauts’ return, the group held day by day planning periods and coordinated their technique for documenting that day. Scudella stated their essential purpose was to “capture imagery that showed the weight of the moment,” together with the feelings of sailors and Marines in addition to the “pure relief and joy of the astronauts.”
“That’s what we really wanted to show, and I think our team succeeded,” Scudella stated.
Clawson stated there have been pure moments that helped the group get nice photographs, just like the astronauts touchdown on the flight deck proper when the solar was setting, which created a “beautiful golden light” that gave him the enduring photographs of Koch sitting within the helicopter.
“The moment was surreal. I had a giddy feeling knowing I just took photos of astronauts that just went farther from Earth than any before them,” Clawson stated.
Since the spacecraft and crew returned, the group’s photographs have circulated throughout the web, and the mission continues to resonate all over the world.
“Seeing it get attention, and from such large outlets, is both delightful and a great learning experience,” Green stated. “Being able to cover such a high profile event was a perfect reminder of how thankful I am to have this job.”
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This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you'll…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…