March 12, 2013 3:30 AM - Updated: March 12, 2013 1:07 PM
In 2014, a Navy ship will recover a NASA capsule from the first time since 1975.
The mission to recover the Orion will reestablish a relationship going back to the beginning of manned space flight.
The following is a brief illustrated history of the relationship of the Navy and NASA from Alan Shepard’s first flight into space to the Apollo moon missions, collected from the U.S. Naval Institute Archives.
Alan Shepard, the first American in space, is recovered from the South Atlantic in 1961. US Naval Institute ArchivesA Marine helicopter lifts Liberty Bell 7 after recovering astronaut Gus Grissom, July 21, 1961. The helicopter was forced to release the capsule and allow it to sink after it became flooded with seawater. Liberty Bell 7 was recovered from the ocean floor in 1999. US Naval Institute ArchivesUSS Kearsarge after recovering Faith 7. May 16, 1963. Note the formation of sailors in the shape of the capsule. US Naval Institute ArchivesFaith 7 being hoisted out of the water by the USS Kearsarge, May 16, 1963. US Naval Institute ArchivesJames A. McDivett is pulled from the Gulf of Mexico during Gemini 4 training, April 14, 1965. US Naval Institute ArchivesGemini 9 astronauts get picked up by the USS Wasp, July 30, 1966. US Naval Institute ArchivesThe USS Kearsarge celebrates its role in astronaut recovery with a banner, May 18, 1963. US Naval Institute Archives
Apollo 10, recovery. US Naval Institute ArchivesSailors on the USS Wasp hoist Gemini 9A aboard, June 6, 1966. US Naval Institute ArchivesDecontaminating the Apollo 11 command module as the astronauts wait to be recovered, July 24, 1969. US Naval Institute ArchivesApollo 13 is recovered after its harrowing mission, April 17, 1970. US Naval Institute ArchivesPararescuemen from the USS Ticonderoga arrive at the spacecraft carrying astronauts from Skylab, June 22, 1973. US Naval Institute Archives
Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy. Follow @samlagrone
