USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) pulls away from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on March, 11 2013. US Navy Photo
Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group left Monday for a Middle East and Mediterranean deployment, the Navy announced. Read More
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 Archives
A 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 Archives
USS Kearsarge after recovering Faith 7. May 16, 1963. Note the formation of sailors in the shape of the capsule. US Naval Institute Archives
Faith 7 being hoisted out of the water by the USS Kearsarge, May 16, 1963. US Naval Institute Archives
James A. McDivett is pulled from the Gulf of Mexico during Gemini 4 training, April 14, 1965. US Naval Institute Archives
Gemini 9 astronauts get picked up by the USS Wasp, July 30, 1966. US Naval Institute Archives
The USS Kearsarge celebrates its role in astronaut recovery with a banner, May 18, 1963. US Naval Institute Archives
Apollo 10, recovery. US Naval Institute Archives
Sailors on the USS Wasp hoist Gemini 9A aboard, June 6, 1966. US Naval Institute Archives
Decontaminating the Apollo 11 command module as the astronauts wait to be recovered, July 24, 1969. US Naval Institute Archives
Apollo 13 is recovered after its harrowing mission, April 17, 1970. US Naval Institute Archives
Pararescuemen from the USS Ticonderoga arrive at the spacecraft carrying astronauts from Skylab, June 22, 1973. US Naval Institute Archives
For more information on the Navy’s relationship to NASA, see MOON MEN RETURN: USS Hornet and the Recovery of the Apollo 11 Astronauts from the Naval Institute Press.
Artist conception of an Orion capsule being towed into the well deck of a San Antonio-class amphibious ship. NASA Photo
At the start of U.S. space flight, capsules from the Mercury to Apollo programs were plucked from the sea by Navy and Marine helicopters and taken back home on aircraft carriers.
Now the service and the space agency are renewing the relationship for the recovery of NASA’s Orion manned capsule with the latest class of amphibious warship, NASA officials told USNI News. Read More
USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5), center, conducts a dual replenishment-at-sea with the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the amphibious landing dock ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) on Feb 13. US Navy Photo
The deployment of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group is being pushed back until Monday due to weather, a U.S. Fleet Forces spokesman told USNI News on Friday. Read More
Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, addresses the crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on Feb. 21. US Navy Photo
The following is a March, 6 message from Adm. Bill Gortney, commander U.S. Fleet Forces, to the Fleet on implementation of sequestration and Continuing Resolution budget cuts that expects to trim almost $9 billion from Navy coffers this fiscal year.
SUBJ: CONTINUING RESOLUTION SEQUESTRATION FLEET IMPLEMENTATION// Read More
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies about the devastating affects of the continuing resolution and sequestration on military readiness. US Navy Photo
The House passed a full Fiscal Year 2013 spending bill allowing the military more flexibility in programming sequestration cuts on Wednesday, according to several press reports. Read More
Gen. Lloyd Austin III (left) and Gen. David Rodriguez (right) during a Feb. 14 Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing. C-Span Photo
The Senate has confirmed two regional commanders, following delays, according to a Wednesday release from the Department of Defense. Read More
US House Leaders are calling for Secreatary of Defense Chuck Hagel to reduce the ranking of a new medal for unmanned aerial vehicle pilots and cyber troops. US Navy Photo
Almost 50 House leaders called on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to lower the precedence of a new medal designed to recognize the warfare contributions of unmanned aerial vehicle pilots and cyber troops, The Hill reported Monday. Read More
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus meets with U.S. Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon at the Rayburn House Office Building in January. US Navy Photo
The U.S. House of Representatives revealed a stopgap bill to allow the Department of Defense more flexibility to apply cuts from sequestration, Military Times reported on Monday. Read More
ima Black, widow of the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy , Delbert Black, visits the grave of her late husband on Sept. 27. US Navy Photo
The ten percent sequestration cuts across the Department of Defense budget will increase wait times at Arlington National Cemetery, a cemetery spokesperson told USNI News on Thursday. Read More
