The Briefing with Jen Psaki Artemis II Splashdown ...Plus, Hapless Vance heads to Pakistan saddled with Trump's Iran folly
Apr 11, 2026
Moses Small, field reporter on naval recovery logistics in San Diego; Josh Einiger, on-site at Johnson Space Center with technical splashdown context; Ali Velshi, television journalist explaining spaceflight coverage. They discuss Artemis II splashdown choreography and recovery hurdles. The conversation also shifts to U.S.-Iran negotiations, JD Vance’s Pakistan trip, and the geopolitical and economic stakes.
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A Radio Glitch Slowed The Final Rescue
- Recovery went smoothly until a simple radio communications failure left the Navy rescuers unable to talk directly to astronauts.
- Mission control joked about push-to-talk checks, illustrating how mundane glitches can delay operations.
Prioritize Rigorous Postflight Medical Checks
- Conduct extensive post-flight medical testing because reentry and gravity readjustment yield measurable cardiovascular and immune changes.
- The crew will undergo blood tests and monitoring to quantify how 10 days in deep space affected circulation and immunity.
Visibility Matters To Sustain Space Programs
- Apollo-era gaps in US lunar missions left a generational disconnect, so Artemis II's visibility can reignite public and student interest in STEM.
- Mae Jemison stressed sustained commitment and funding are required to avoid another multi-decade hiatus.