Navy search and rescue medical technician supports recovery of Artemis II astronauts

SAN DIEGO (April 15, 2026) — As NASA’s Artemis II crew returned to Earth following their historic mission around the moon, a team of Navy Medicine professionals stood ready in the Pacific Ocean to receive them—prepared for anything from a routine recovery to a life-threatening emergency.Among them...

10 April 2026

First Contact: Meet the Dive Medical Recovery Team of Artemis II

SAN DIEGO -- The first face the Artemis II crew will see upon their return to Earth will be the face of a U.S. Navy Sailor.Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala make up the dive medical...

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
7700 Arlington Blvd. Ste. 5113 Falls Church, VA 22042-5113
This is an official U.S. Navy website
This is a Department of Defense (DoD) Internet computer system.

General Navy Medical Inquiries (to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery): usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.bumed---pao@health.mil

Northern Command: Dial 988 then Press 1
Pacific Command: Call +1 844-702-5493 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)
European Command: Call +1 844-702-5495 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)
Central Command: Call +1 855-422-7719 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)
African Command: Call +1 888-482-6054 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)
Southern Command: Call +1 866-989-9599 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)