MILLINGTON, Tenn. – 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.
Airman Daniel Olson, a native of Plano, Texas, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Olson, a 2020 graduate of Plano East Senior High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, which airlifted the Artemis II crew back to USS John P. Murtha for further evaluations and then back to land.
“My proudest accomplishment is being part of this mission in helping NASA,” Olson said. “One of the smaller things I’m proud of is being able to work hand-in-hand with my peers without really needing to hold their hand, even though I’m still new.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Plano.
“Growing up, I learned to always lend a helping hand whenever, wherever,” Olson said. “Being a good person who can help means you’re someone people can rely on, and that will help you in the future.”
Olson joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Olson serves as an aviation electrician’s mate.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to do more and see more in my life,” Olson said. “This includes having stories I can pass down in my family.”
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.
In addition to transporting the crew, members of HSC-23 also provided NASA with imagery support from their MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters by tracking the Orion space capsule as it traveled through Earth’s atmosphere.
Based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, the “Wildcards” of HSC-23 fly and maintain the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing sea combat platform. The Navy MH-60S is able to perform many different missions, but some of the most common operations include airborne mine countermeasures, anti-surface warfare, combat search and rescue, supply support and medical evacuations.
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.
“Serving in the Navy has given me a new outlook on some things,” Olson said. “It’s shown me that I shouldn’t always rely on myself and that I can rely on others to help. One team, one fight.”
Olson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom and dad, as well as my friends, Darren and Robyn Peterson, for helping me on my journey here,” Olson said.