Hickory native helps bring astronauts home from moon mission

When NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific upon their return to Earth from their flight around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors stood ready to welcome them home.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly Hitaffer, from Hickory, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.

Hitaffer, a 2021 graduate of St. Stephens High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS John P. Murtha, the ship tasked with retrieving the astronauts and spacecraft.

Hitaffer serves as an interior communications electrician and helps maintain the ship and its equipment for smooth recovery operations.

“I’m very proud to be a part of the Artemis II recovery,” Hitaffer said. “It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hickory.

“I learned a lot about the Navy in my time in Navy Junior ROTC at my high school,” Hitaffer said. “A lot of the information and leadership lessons from then have stayed with me through my time in the Navy, and I always try to continually build on them. I love being able to teach people color guard and to do ceremonies for the Navy.”

Hitaffer joined the Navy four years ago.

“Multiple members of my family have joined the military in the past, and I wanted to carry on that tradition,” Hitaffer said. “I also wanted to travel and see the world.”

NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts — NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen — on a nearly 10-day flight around the moon in the Orion space capsule, marking the first time in more than 50 years that humans journeyed to deep space.

The crew splashed down just after 5 p.m. (PDT) on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, where Navy sailors who had been training for this recovery mission were waiting aboard John P. Murtha, an amphibious transport dock.

The U.S. Navy’s amphibious transport dock has unique advantages, including a well deck, helicopter pad, onboard medical facilities and communication capabilities needed to support the mission. The platform gave NASA the ability to recover the Orion space capsule and collect critical data to help ensure it’s ready to recover the astronauts and capsule during future Artemis missions

Homeported in San Diego, the ship is named in honor of the late and long-serving Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Murtha.

“It is a fitting tribute to Congressman Murtha, who dedicated his life to serving our nation, that the ship bearing his name will be integral to this historic moment in space exploration,” said Capt. Erik Kenny, commanding officer of John P. Murtha. “He was a champion for our military and a visionary. We are honored to carry on his legacy by supporting NASA and the Artemis II mission.”

Hitaffer has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I am most proud of commissioning my previous ship, USS Jack H. Lucas,” Hitaffer said. “It was a very stressful time, but I absolutely loved it and getting to do the color guard for the big ceremony.”

This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

“Serving in the Navy to me means a chance to better my life and a chance to see the world, and meet the most amazing people,” Hitaffer said. “It gives me a sense of pride when I’m telling stories to friends and family back home.”

Hitaffer is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to thank my mom, dad and the whole family for supporting me and Emily during our time in the military,” Hitaffer said. “Y’all’s support has helped more than y’all know. To my teachers and friends back home from high school: Y’all helped shape me into who I am more than you know. To my twin sister, Emily: You have absolutely been the biggest help I’ve had in the journey, and I couldn’t thank you enough for everything you’ve helped me with. You’ve always been my rock.”