When the astronauts on the Artemis II mission splash down off the coast of California Friday evening, the first face they’ll see is that of an Oklahoman.
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Laddy Aldridge, from Cushing, Okla., will be the first to make contact with the crew, according to the U.S. Navy. Aldridge is assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 1 and will open the capsule, climb inside and start medical assessments.
“Coming from three generations of military service in my family, I’m honored to serve as the senior dive independent duty corpsman for this mission,” Aldridge said. “This effort is the culmination of both our training to bring world class care to the Artemis II crew and countless dedicated years of Navy Diving and Navy medicine.”
Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala make up the rest of the dive medical team.
The team will provide one-on-one assistance to astronauts Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover upon their return to Earth. Training for this mission has been a years-long process between the four team members as the first-contact medical providers inside the capsule.
