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.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Wyatt Conley, from Weirton, West Virginia, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Conley, a 2020 graduate of Weir High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS John P. Murtha, the ship tasked with retrieving the astronauts and spacecraft.
Conley serves as an interior communications electrician and assisted with the recovery mission.
“My role in the Artemis II recovery was to make sure everyone had the ability to communicate with vital watch stations for a safe recovery,” Conley said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Weirton.
“Growing up in Weirton, my first job was for my neighbor, Randy Pryor, who runs a construction company,” Conley said. “It was hard work, but my dad had taught me the importance of a strong work ethic for as long as I can remember. Working long, hot days taught me something I still use to this day: absolute grit. After I graduated, I wanted to serve in a bigger way, so I joined in hopes of fulfilling my calling for service. Now being in for five years, I still possess the same work ethic, grit and a lot more technical ability.”
Conley joined the Navy five years ago.
“My family has always served in the armed forces, so I decided I would follow the same path and do something for my country,” Conley 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.”
Conley has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy was the completion of my second deployment on the USNS Mercy hospital ship,” Conley said. “We went to a lot of different countries, many of which I never even knew existed, and helped a lot of people who didn’t have access to medical care. It was a very good feeling to help others overseas.”
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 gives me a sense of purpose,” Conley said. “I feel like I’m doing something for the people back home and for the people of the nation I love.”
Conley is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I first want to thank my mother and father for always pushing me and never allowing me to quit when things got hard or when I thought I couldn’t do something,” Conley said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them. My grandparents have also always supported me in anything I did. They are the strongest people I know, and I’m grateful for everything they’ve ever done for me. I’d also like to thank my old boss, Randy Pryor, for giving me the opportunity to work for him and for teaching me a lot about construction.”