BACK TO EARTH: NASA Orion Spacecraft Recovered From The Pacific After Three-Week Space Mission

A newly-released video shows the Orion spacecraft being recovered from the water after making a successful splashdown in the Pacific.

The US 3rd Fleet accompanied the spacecraft as it was making its way home after spending 25.5 days in space, completing the Artemis I mission.

The images were obtained by Newsflash from the US Navy, along with a statement that said: "Navy Divers and Sailors from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit One recover the NASA Artemis I Orion spacecraft.

"Amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD 27), along with Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8), is underway in US 3rd Fleet in support of the recovery."

The retrieval operation was part of a Department of Defense effort to determine best practices for safely retrieving spacecraft capable of carrying humans into space.

"The US Navy has many unique capabilities that make it an ideal partner for supporting NASA, including its amphibious and expeditionary capabilities with the ability to embark helicopters, launch and recover small boats, three-dimensional air search radar and advanced medical facilities," the US Navy added.

Artemis I is the first in a series of complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars, according to NASA's official website.

The primary goals for Artemis I are to demonstrate Orion’s systems in spaceflight and ensure a safe mission prior to the first flight with crew on Artemis II.