Shannon (ship)

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)
NamesakeShannon Walker
Owner
  • Falcon Landing, LLC (2022-present)
  • Guice Offshore (2013–2022)
Operator
  • SpaceX (2018-present)
  • Guice Offshore (2013–2018)
Port of registryPort Canaveral, Florida
BuilderMaster Boat Builders, Coden, Alabama
Launched2009
Completed2010
In service2010
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typePlatform supply vessel
Tonnage
Length49.85 m (163 ft 7 in)
Beam11 m (36 ft)
Draught3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Depth3.7 m (12 ft)
Decks1
Installed power1,750 hp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion2 × Caterpillar 3508B
Speed22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity20
Crew6
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, Shannon or Megan 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.

  1. ^ "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Go Navigator". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. ^ "SHANNON, Offshore Tug/Supply Ship - Details and current position - IMO 9566887 - VesselFinder". www.vesselfinder.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.