When NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific upon their return to Earth from their flight around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors stood ready to welcome them home.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Zackerie Noeman, from Memphis, Tennessee, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Noeman, a 2022 graduate of Brighton High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS John P. Murtha, the ship tasked with retrieving the astronauts and spacecraft.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Memphis.
“Growing up, I learned that results matter,” Noeman said.
Noeman joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Noeman serves as an electronics technician, tasked with maintaining the ship’s radios for mission readiness.
“I joined the Navy because I had a desire to see the world, visit foreign ports, experience life at sea and be part of missions that change the world,” Noeman said.
NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts – NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen – on a nearly 10-day flight around the moon in the Orion space capsule, marking the first time in more than 50 years that humans journeyed to deep space. The crew splashed down just after 5 p.m. (PDT) on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, where Navy sailors who had been training for this recovery mission were waiting aboard John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport dock.
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious transport dock has unique advantages, including a well deck, helicopter pad, onboard medical facilities and communication capabilities needed to support the mission. The platform gave NASA the ability to recover the Orion space capsule and collect critical data to help ensure it’s ready to recover the astronauts and capsule during future Artemis missions
Homeported in San Diego, the ship is named in honor of the late and long-serving Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha.
“It is a fitting tribute to Congressman Murtha, who dedicated his life to serving our nation, that the ship bearing his name will be integral to this historic moment in space exploration,” said Capt. Erik Kenny, commanding officer of John P. Murtha. “He was a champion for our military and a visionary. We are honored to carry on his legacy by supporting NASA and the Artemis II mission.”
Noeman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of being part of a mission that has the same historical significance as Apollo 17,” Noeman said.
Apollo 17, which launched and returned in December 1972, was the last time NASA sent astronauts to the moon.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
“To me, serving in the Navy means defending the nation through maritime means and delivering rapid disaster relief, medical care and logistics support globally,” Noeman said.
Noeman is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad because he showed me how to navigate the world,” Noeman said.
This blog was written by Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach
