The USS Anchorage departed San Diego on Monday to participate in a groundbreaking project by NASA.
Space.com reports NASA is depending on the San Diego-based ship to recover the Orion space capsule from the Pacific Ocean after its first test launch into space on Dec. 4.
As Slate.com explains, the Orion spacecraft is NASA's biggest step towards putting a human being into space in 40 years:
Unlike the Shuttle, which never got beyond low-Earth orbit (it never got much higher than a few hundred kilometers off the ground), Orion is meant for grander goals: the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and even Mars.
According to the Navy, the USS Anchorage crew has been training for many months in preparation for the splash down:
Anchorage will use a specially trained bridge team that will be on watch for the operation. Divers aboard small boats will maneuver alongside and rig tending lines to guide the capsule to Anchorage as the ship safely operates on station.
However, NASA will still play a critical role in the mission:
NASA crew members are also managing how the capsule gets brought in, how it's set down and where it's safe in the ship.
Navy Lt. Keith Tate, operations officer of the USS Anchorage, said his crew is proud to be taking part in such a landmark operation:
"All of us who have been here since the beginning are excited to see this day come. We're hoping for a safe, successful evolution. It's something historic and we're all proud to be apart of it."
