Latest News About Uss John P Murtha

Here’s what I can share about the USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) and its latest news as of 2026.

Direct answer

• The USS John P. Murtha has been involved in Artemis II-related recovery operations and related deployments in the Pacific, with recent activity reported in early-to-mid 2026 indicating recovery and support roles for NASA’s Artemis II mission, and subsequent return to port locations such as San Diego after mission milestones [source coverage includes Navy/ESG-3 updates and public Navy/NASA statements].

Context and what this means

• Role and platform: The John P. Murtha is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD-26). It has been used as a recovery and support platform in NASA’s Artemis II program, which involves crewed lunar missions, aligning with DoD/NASA collaboration on launch and recovery operations [sources detailing URT (Underway Recovery Test) involvement and Artemis II recovery plan].[3][7]
• Recent deployments and movements: Reports indicate Murtha’s participation in Artemis II-related activities off the U.S. West Coast and in the Pacific theater, including movements to support recovery operations and eventual return to port (e.g., San Diego) after mission milestones, with coverage noting recoveries and mission support in early 2026.[2][4][3]
• Operational context: Murtha’s deployments have included interoperability with other amphibious ships and NASA teams, and the vessel has been cited in Navy and NASA coordination materials as part of Artemis II readiness and recovery planning.[6][3]

What to watch for next

• Artemis II milestones: Expect updates tied to Artemis II crewed lunar mission timelines, including recovery operations, fetch-and-recovery assignments, and port calls in the Pacific region as the mission progresses toward designated milestones.[4][3]
• Navy/NASA press releases: Official statements from Navy public affairs and NASA will provide the most authoritative updates on Murtha’s role, status, and any modifications or training tied to Artemis II.[7]

Illustrative note

• If you’d like, I can assemble a concise timeline of Murtha’s Artemis II-related activities from publicly available Navy/NASA sources and generate a simple chart showing port calls and major mission milestones for 2026.

Would you like me to pull the latest official statements and compile a brief, cited timeline? I can also provide a map-style summary of Murtha’s known deployments in 2025–2026.

Citations

• Navy/Artemis II URT and Murtha recovery involvement coverage and official statements referenced above.[3][7]
• Real-time tracking and deployment summaries noting Murtha’s Pacific operations and Artemis II recovery role.[2][4]