Contents

Shannon (ship)

SpaceX Dragon Recovery Vessel

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour, with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley inside, is seen aboard SpaceX’s Shannon recovery ship shortly after splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, on Aug. 2, 2020.
History
United States
Name	Shannon (2022-present) GO Navigator (2018–2022) GIS Grizzly (2014–2018) Harvey Grizzly (2013–2014) Callais Navigator (2009–2013)
Namesake	Shannon Walker
Owner	Falcon Landing, LLC (2022-present) Guice Offshore (2013–2022)
Operator	SpaceX (2018-present) Guice Offshore (2013–2018)
Port of registry	Port Canaveral, Florida
Builder	Master Boat Builders, Coden, Alabama
Launched	2009
Completed	2010
In service	2010
Identification	Call sign: WDK3552 IMO number: 9566887 MMSI number: 367550000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class and type	Platform supply vessel
Tonnage	498 GT 659 DWT
Length	49.85 m (163 ft 7 in)
Beam	11 m (36 ft)
Draught	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Depth	3.7 m (12 ft)
Decks	1
Installed power	1,750 hp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Caterpillar 3508B
Speed	22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity	20
Crew	6
Notes	[1][2]

MV Shannon, formerly known as MV GO Navigator, is one of SpaceX's two Dragon capsule recovery vessels. Owned by SpaceX through Falcon Landing LLC (which also owns SpaceX's faring recovery vessels and Elon Musk's private jet), this vessel, along with its sister ship, MV Megan, is designed to retrieve Crew and Cargo Dragon capsules after splashdown.

When a Dragon capsule is preparing to return to Earth, ShannonorMegan are dispatched to wait near the predetermined landing zone. After splashdown, fast boats deployed from the vessel, approach the capsule to perform safety checks, check on the crew, and prepare it to be lifted aboard the recovery vessel, where the astronauts can exit the capsule. NASA requires SpaceX to allow the astronauts to exit within 60 minutes of splashdown.

To support its mission, the vessel is equipped with a specialized crane on the stern to pull the capsule up from the water, a medical unit to treat astronauts, and a helipad to allow astronauts and any time-sensitive cargo materials returned from space to be quickly returned to shore.

History[edit]

GO Navigator's services were procured by SpaceX as a quick transport vessel, as a back-up to GO Searcher in the event of any technical failures.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018 and 2019, the vessel and its crew were deployed for several hours of training to prepare for the recovery of the Dragon 2 capsules and their astronauts. The vessel executed the recovery operations during the Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test.^{[citation needed]}

Between April and May 2019, GO Navigator was temporarily re-assigned to fairing recovery operations for the ArabSat-6A, Starlink 0.9, STP-2, and Amos-17 missions.^{[citation needed]}

The vessel played a key role in the recovery operation of SpaceX's first crewed mission – Crew Dragon Demo-2.^[3][4][5][6] along with Megan.^[7] Both the vessels are identical and equipped with a medical treatment facility, helipad, lifting frame, etc.^[8]

GO stands for Guice Offshore, the owner and operator of these type of vessels.^[9]

In early 2022, the vessel was renamed Shannon after SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut Shannon Walker, along with GO Searcher being renamed Megan after SpaceX Crew-2 astronaut Megan McArthur. They are registered to Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company that also owns recovery ships Bob and Doug and Elon's private jet.^{[citation needed]}

List of recovery missions[edit]

Mission Overview[edit]

Demo-2[edit]

For the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission, the GO Navigator had a broken backup generator; however it still completed its mission and recovered the Endeavour capsule from the sea. The recovery was impeded by private boats which circled the capsule in the water.

NASA Chief Astronaut Patrick G. Forrester, left, and NASA astronaut and Crew Recovery Chief Shane Kimbrough.

GO Navigator deploying a fast boat off the rear of the boat.

GO Navigator approaches the capsule.

Crew Dragon Endeavour being hoisted onto aft of GO Navigator vessel.

Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside Endeavour onboard GO Navigator being greeted by SpaceX flight surgeon Anil Menon.

See also[edit]

• Megan, another SpaceX Dragon recovery ship

References[edit]

External links[edit]