When NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific returning to Earth from their flight around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors were ready to welcome them home.
Petty Officer 1st Class Laurel Lujano, a Wichita-native, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Lujano, a 2012 graduate of Kapaun Mt. Carmel 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.
Lujano said: “My proudest accomplishment in the Navy has been this opportunity to be included in the Artemis II mission and contribute to an event that will outlive me."
She went on to say: “Some of the lessons I learned from my hometown that have stayed with me are to stay humble, work hard and keep your family close."
Lujano joined the Navy seven years ago; today, Lujano serves as an aviation machinist’s mate.
