Shannon (ship)

Shannon, formerly called GO Navigator, is an offshore supply ship owned and operated by Guice Offshore, and currently deployed as one of the SpaceX Dragon/Dragon 2 recovery vessels[2] along with Megan.[3] Both the vessels are identical and equipped with a medical treatment facility, helipad, lifting frame, etc.[4]

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 (2019-2022)
  • GIS Grizzly (2018-2019)
  • HARVEY Grizzly (2014-2018)
  • CALLAIS Navigator (2013-2014)
NamesakeShannon Walker
Owner
  • Falcon Landing, LLC (2022-present)
  • Guice Offshore (2013-2022)
Operator
  • SpaceX (2018-present)
  • Guice Offshore (2013-2018)
BuilderMaster Boat Builders, Coden, Alabama
Launched2009
Completed2010
In service2010
Identification
StatusIn service
Notes[1]
General characteristics
Class and typePlatform supply vessel
Tonnage
Length49.85 m (163 ft 7 in)
Beam10.98 m (36 ft 0 in)
Draught3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Depth3.6576 m (12 ft 0 in)
Decks1
Installed power1,750 hp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion2 x CAT 3508B Industrial Diesel Engines
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity20
Crew6
Notes[1]

The vessel played a key role in the recovery operation of SpaceX's first crewed mission - Crew Dragon Demo-2.[5][6][7]

History

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.

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.

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.

GO stands for Guice Offshore, the owner and operator of these type of vessels.[8]

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.

List of recovery missions
Date Mission Role Type
11 April 2019 ArabSat-6A Fairing recovery Non-Catching
24 May 2019 Starlink Fairing recovery Non-Catching
25 June 2019 STP-2 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
6 August 2019 Amos-17 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
11 November 2019 Starlink-2 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
2 August 2020 Crew Dragon Demo-2 Crew Dragon recovery support Catching
14 January 2021 CRS-21 Cargo Dragon recovery support Catching
11 March 2021 Starlink 20 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
14 March 2021 Starlink 21 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
2 May 2021 Crew Dragon Crew-1 Crew Dragon recovery support Catching
26 May 2021 Starlink 28 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
6 June 2021 SXM-8 Fairing recovery Non-Catching
10 July 2021 CRS-22 Cargo Dragon recovery support Catching
8 November 2021 Crew Dragon Crew-2 Crew Dragon recovery support Catching
6 May 2022 Crew Dragon Crew-3 Crew Dragon recovery support Catching
12 March 2023 Crew Dragon Crew-5 Crew Dragon recovery support Catching
15 April 2023 CRS-27 Cargo Dragon recovery support Catching
30 June 2023 CRS-28 Cargo Dragon recovery support Catching

Mission Overview

Demo-2

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.

GO Navigator Demo-2 recovery mission
  • GO Navigator in the dock showing capsule "nest" and retractable arch recovery device.
    GO Navigator in the dock showing capsule "nest" and retractable arch recovery device.
  • NASA Chief Astronaut Patrick G. Forrester, left, and NASA astronaut and Crew Recovery Chief Shane Kimbrough.
    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 deploying a fast boat off the rear of the boat.
  • GO Navigator approaches the capsule.
    GO Navigator approaches the capsule.
  • Crew Dragon Endeavour being hoisted onto aft of GO Navigator vessel.
    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.
    Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside Endeavour onboard GO Navigator being greeted by SpaceX flight surgeon Anil Menon.
more images can be found on wiki commons.

See also
  • Megan, another SpaceX Dragon recovery ship

References
  1. "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Go Navigator". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. "GO Navigator". SpaceXFleet. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  3. "GO Searcher". SpaceXFleet. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  4. "Crew Dragon Recovery". SpaceXFleet. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  5. "SpaceX Crew Dragon: everything you need to know about the Demo-2 space launch". BBC Science Focus Magazine. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  6. Sheetz, Michael (2020-05-26). "Everything you need to know about SpaceX's historic Demo-2 launch, its first with NASA astronauts". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. "Launch America - a partnership between NASA and private space companies – will help open the space above Earth to people besides government astronauts". NASA. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  8. Ralph, Eric (2018-11-05). "NASA shows off SpaceX's upgraded Crew Dragon recovery vessel, tests helipad". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
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