Tips for spotting the Artemis II astronauts as they splash down off San Diego’s coast Friday

SAN DIEGO — The Artemis II astronauts will be recovered by the U.S. Navy after their capsule splashes down Friday off the San Diego coast. 

The U.S. Navy confirmed Monday that the USS John P. Murtha, based in San Diego, will help recover the four astronauts following their historic lunar flyby. 

Sailors assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship have been undergoing training in preparation for recovering the Artemis II crew, whose space capsule is set to return just after 5 p.m. PST Friday.

“About 50 miles offshore, there’ll be some rescue boats. That’s part of the reason San Diego is so special. As a Navy town, we’ve got all of the facilities and structures in place to support these astronauts coming back home. …This is a pretty good place to come back to,” said Francisco Contreras, an Oceanside resident and board member for the San Diego Astronomy Association. 

A U.S. helicopter squadron based out of Naval Air Station North Island will assist in tracking the capsule while it travels through Earth’s atmosphere, then recover the four astronauts and bring them to the ship for assessment. 

The capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific roughly between San Clemente Island and Catalina Island. 

Contreras told CBS 8 there is still some hope for those wanting to spot it from San Diego County. 

“I’m going to try. I would say, head to the coast. Because it’s so high up and so far away, you should be able to see it from the coast. You don’t have to get close to San Clemente, I don’t think. As long as you can have a clear view northwest, that would be your best chances to see it,” Contreras said. 

Meanwhile, the San Diego Air and Space Museum will be hosting its own watch party for the splashdown, which will feature activities for children.