Ultimate Guide to SpaceX Droneships and Recovery Fleet

SpaceX

SpaceX maintains a large fleet of commercial ships to support its spaceflight recovery operations in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The company routinely lands Falcon 9 first stages offshore, recovers fairing halves from the ocean surface (valued at $3 million each), and Dragon capsules with Astronauts and cargo on board.

Of Course I Still Love You

Autonomous Spaceport Droneship based on the US West Coast for offshore Falcon 9 booster landings.

A Shortfall of Gravitas

Autonomous Spaceport Droneship based in Florida for offshore Falcon 9 booster landings in the Atlantic Ocean.

Just Read the Instructions

Autonomous Spaceport Droneship based in Florida for offshore Falcon 9 booster landings in the Atlantic Ocean.

Bob

Dual-purpose ark recovery vessel named in honor of NASA Astronaut Bob Behnken.

Doug

Dual-purpose ark recovery vessel named in honor of NASA Astronaut Doug Hurley.

Shannon

Capsule recovery vessel named in honor of NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker.

Dragon Recovery Fast Boats

Fleet of small craft that provide fast response and recovery during splashdown. Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky

GO Beyond

Dual-purpose support vessel for fairing recovery and droneship support.

Maverick, Goose and Iceman

Fast boats used for fairing recovery and other operations. Deployable from support ships Bob and Doug. Photo: Jenny Hautmann

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Razor Crest

Hovercraft employee transportation at Starbase, across the Brownsville shipping channel. Photo: Mary – BocaChicaGal

Eagle 5

Hovercraft employee transportation at Starbase, across the Brownsville shipping channel. Photo: Jenny Hautmann

Octagrabber

Falcon 9 securing remote-controlled robot. Three exist, operating on all active SpaceX droneships.

Signet Maritime Tugs

Chartered tugboats in use for operations in the Atlantic Ocean to tow Just Read the Instructions and A Shortfall of Gravitas droneships.

Curtin Maritime Tugs

Chartered tugboats in use for operations in the Pacific Ocean to tow Of Course I Still Love You droneship. Photo: Curtin Maritime