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Hoisted Down to the Orion Capsule | Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Rescue Swimmer Chris Upton | Ep. 60

Hoisted Down to the Orion Capsule | Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Rescue Swimmer Chris Upton | Ep. 60

Author: Brian Dickinson May 5, 2026 Duration: 48:00
Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast
History

The whole world watched the Orion capsule splash down in the Pacific and the U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer hanging from a cable beneath an MH-60S Sea Hawk—lowered down to bring the astronauts home from the Moon.


In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Chris Upton shares what it was like to be one of the Aviation Rescue Swimmers on the hoist during the historic Artemis II recovery. After NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down off the coast of San Diego—returning from humanity's first lunar mission in over 50 years—Chris was part of the team trusted to physically bring them up out of the Pacific and onto the helicopter that would deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha.


This is the view from the cable.


Chris takes us inside the training, the rehearsals, the precision, and the quiet pressure of being the person at the end of the hoist when the world is watching—and four lives are in your hands.


In this episode:

  • Being lowered on the hoist during the Artemis II astronaut recovery
  • What it felt like to come face-to-face with astronauts returning from the Moon
  • The rehearsals, mockups, and training that prepared the team for splashdown day
  • Flying with HSC-23 and the precision required between pilot, crew chief, SMT, and swimmer
  • Working alongside the Navy dive medical team and NASA's Landing and Recovery team
  • Bringing astronauts home one by one to the USS John P. Murtha
  • The legacy of Navy Rescue Swimmers in U.S. space recovery missions
  • What it means to be the last link in the chain that brings someone home


Chris Upton was part of one of the most historic recovery missions in modern naval aviation. His story is a window into the quiet professionalism of the men and women who live by four words: So Others May Live.


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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 60


So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸


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Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers


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There’s a moment in every rescue when training meets turbulence, and a person must decide to step into the storm. Calm in the Chaos-U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast is built around those moments, sharing firsthand accounts from the men and women who have lived them. Host Brian Dickinson, drawing from his own experience as a former Navy Rescue Swimmer and an author who has faced extreme environments, guides these conversations with a rare understanding. Each episode unfolds a real mission, but the focus often settles on what happens between the orders-the split-second decisions, the managed fear, and the profound humanity required to save a life in perilous conditions. This isn't just about historical operations; it's an intimate exploration of the grit, mindset, and quiet faith that define these individuals. The podcast has found a dedicated audience, ranking in the top tier of podcasts globally, precisely because it goes beyond the heroics to examine the tangible calm forged in chaos. While not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense, the stories offer an authentic window into a world where running toward danger is the job description. Listeners will hear voices often reserved for debrief rooms, sharing narratives of loss, survival, and the weight of the helmet, all framed by Dickinson’s grounded perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast
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