The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, 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.
In 2018-2019, 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.
However, 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 and are registered to Falcon Landing LLC, a SpaceX-linked company that also owns recovery ships Bob and Doug + Elon's private jet.
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.