Pacific Ocean – Sailors assigned to amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 “Wildcards” joined NASA and European Space Agency astronauts for NASA Underway Recovery Test 12 on March 28, 2025.

The test took place in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission. This mission will send four astronauts around the Moon and beyond in the Orion spacecraft.

NASA and the Department of Defense are working together on a series of tests. These tests aim to demonstrate and evaluate the processes, procedures, and hardware needed for recovery operations in crewed lunar missions.

The Department of Defense brings unique skills to the partnership. Its amphibious ships can carry helicopters, launch and recover small boats, and offer advanced medical care at onboard facilities, making it an ideal partner for NASA.

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