From Pascagoula to the Moon and back, Ingalls shipbuilders once again proved that what’s built on the Mississippi Gulf Coast can carry a mission far beyond it.
When Artemis II astronauts splashed down in the Pacific on Friday, their first welcome came from aboard the USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26)—a ship designed, built, delivered, and maintained by Ingalls shipbuilders.
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock played a critical role in bringing the crew safely home after humanity’s first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years.
That moment was years in the making.
From the strenuous training that took place beforehand to the recovery efforts that saw the astronauts safely back on shore, each evolution depended on the systems and capabilities Ingalls shipbuilders put in place more than a decade ago.
Designed to embark, transport and land Marines and their equipment, LPD 26’s well deck, command‑and‑control capabilities, and small‑boat operations make it an ideal platform for NASA’s recovery team.
In 2022, the USS Portland (LPD 27) supported recovery operations for Artemis I, the program’s uncrewed test flight. With Artemis II, LPD 26 carried that legacy forward—this time with astronauts on board.
And while the spotlight shined on the Pacific, another piece of Mississippi’s fingerprint on Artemis II was already written long before liftoff. Just up the road from Pascagoula at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, engineers tested the powerful RS-25 engines that helped send the Orion spacecraft on its journey around the Moon, connecting South Mississippi to both the launch and landing of the mission.
It’s a full-circle contribution: propulsion proven at Stennis, recovery delivered by Ingalls.
From the Gulf Coast to deep space and back again, Ingalls shipbuilders remain an essential part of America’s next chapter in exploration.
4/10/2026
Ingalls shipbuilders build more than ships. We build the platforms for tomorrow’s exploration.
HAPPENING TODAY, the Ingalls-built USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) will be part of the historic Artemis II mission when the crew splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
Pictured above, the U.S. Navy trained with NASA earlier this year to release a crew module test article from its well deck. This work helps prepare U.S. Space Command for recovering the Artemis II crew and spacecraft.
We’re honored to see Ingalls craftsmanship helping bring America’s astronauts home.
Did you work on LPD 26? Email IngallsCommunications@hii.com to tell us how it feels seeing your work make history!
Splash down is scheduled to happen TODAY at 8:07 p.m. (5:07 p.m. CST). Watch live updates of the Artemis II mission at www.NASA.gov