A U.S. Navy sailor from Massachusetts will play a key role in welcoming astronauts back to Earth as part of Artemis II mission recovery operations.
Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, a native of Chelsea, is part of a specialized Navy dive medical team assigned to assist the returning crew. He will be among the first responders to reach the spacecraft once it lands in the Pacific Ocean.
Critical Role in Astronaut Recovery
Link will help open the Orion spacecraft capsule and safely extract the astronauts following splashdown. His responsibilities also include conducting initial medical evaluations to ensure the crew’s well-being after their journey through space.
With nearly two decades of experience in dive medicine, Link brings extensive expertise to the mission. He expressed pride in contributing to a historic spaceflight and representing both his hometown and the Navy.
Artemis II Crew Set for Historic Return
The four-member crew—Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—is scheduled to return after spending about 10 days in space.
Their mission marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time humans have traveled into deep space in more than 50 years.
High-Stakes Reentry and Splashdown
The return journey involves a high-speed descent through Earth’s atmosphere, where the spacecraft will endure extreme heat before deploying parachutes for a controlled landing in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of San Diego.
Once the capsule lands, recovery teams—including Link and his unit—will move quickly to secure the spacecraft and assist the astronauts.
A Historic Step in Space Exploration
The Artemis II mission represents a major step forward in NASA’s long-term goal of returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
For Link and the recovery team, the mission is not just about technical precision—it’s about being part of a historic moment in modern space exploration.
A U.S. Navy sailor from Massachusetts will play a key role in welcoming astronauts back to Earth as part of Artemis II mission recovery operations.
Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, a native of Chelsea, is part of a specialized Navy dive medical team assigned to assist the returning crew. He will be among the first responders to reach the spacecraft once it lands in the Pacific Ocean.
Critical Role in Astronaut Recovery
Link will help open the Orion spacecraft capsule and safely extract the astronauts following splashdown. His responsibilities also include conducting initial medical evaluations to ensure the crew’s well-being after their journey through space.
With nearly two decades of experience in dive medicine, Link brings extensive expertise to the mission. He expressed pride in contributing to a historic spaceflight and representing both his hometown and the Navy.
Artemis II Crew Set for Historic Return
The four-member crew—Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—is scheduled to return after spending about 10 days in space.
Their mission marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time humans have traveled into deep space in more than 50 years.
High-Stakes Reentry and Splashdown
The return journey involves a high-speed descent through Earth’s atmosphere, where the spacecraft will endure extreme heat before deploying parachutes for a controlled landing in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of San Diego.
Once the capsule lands, recovery teams—including Link and his unit—will move quickly to secure the spacecraft and assist the astronauts.
A Historic Step in Space Exploration
The Artemis II mission represents a major step forward in NASA’s long-term goal of returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
For Link and the recovery team, the mission is not just about technical precision—it’s about being part of a historic moment in modern space exploration.