Overview
- Orion splashed down off San Diego Friday at 8:07 p.m. EST in the first safe human return from a moon mission in more than 50 years.
- Navy divers entered the capsule, checked the four astronauts’ health, and moved them to helicopters bound for the USS John P. Murtha.
- Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link said he was among the first inside, helping open the hatch and assess the crew, who NASA reported had a clean bill of health.
- Link, a Chelsea High graduate with 18 years of dive medicine experience, said his team trained for three years to prepare for the splashdown.
- The City of Chelsea publicly praised Link’s role and roots, while he urged local students to work hard and said the community’s support has been overwhelming.