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.
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]
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]
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.
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.
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]
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]
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.