The Artemis II capsule will land Friday 45 to 80 miles off the coast between San Clemente Island and Catalina Island, with NASA and Navy personnel positioned and ready for recovery operations.

While the splashdown itself will remain invisible from shore, spectators may catch a glimpse of the capsule streaking across the sky during its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. The splashdown is slated for 5:07 p.m.

Francisco Contreras, an Oceanside resident and board member for the San Diego Astronomy Association, recommends heading to the coast for the best view. “Because it’s so high up and so far away, you should be able to see it from the coast, you don’t have to get close to San Clemente I don’t think. As long as you can have a clear view… northwest, that would be your best chances to see it,” said Contreras.

Local residents have expressed enthusiasm about witnessing this historic moment. “I’d love to see some astronauts waving at me,” said one space enthusiast at the Oceanside Pier. Another visitor added, “I live in Escondido but now that I hear we might get a shot at it, I might come to the coast tomorrow afternoon and see if I can get a peak at something.”

The recovery operation involves extensive coordination between NASA and the U.S. Navy. Naval Base San Diego and Naval Air Station North Island are participating in the mission. The USS Murtha, an amphibious ship equipped with a transport dock, helicopter pad and medical facilities, has departed under the Coronado Bridge and headed to sea carrying 150 NASA personnel and several hundred local sailors.

A helicopter squadron from Naval Air Station North Island will track the capsule as it travels through Earth’s atmosphere and recover the four astronauts for assessment aboard the ship. According to Navy personnel, “They come in really fast, they have parachutes that deploy, so by the time they splash down in the water, only going about 20 mph.”

The recovery effort represents years of preparation. “We’ve been working on this with NASA for about 12 years, working up to this day,” said a Navy official involved in the mission.

Some San Diego residents expressed nostalgia about the space program’s resurgence. “We were watching the first moon landing in black and white tv in my living room so I’m glad the program is back kicking around,” said one observer.

News 8 will provide live coverage of the splashdown on all streaming platforms.