Megan (ship)

Megan, one of SpaceX’s two recovery ships, is pictured in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast while awaiting the splashdown of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
History
United States
Name	Megan (2022–present) GO Searcher (2014–2022) Harvey Otter (2013) Callais Searcher (2010–2013)
Namesake	Megan McArthur
Owner	Falcon Landing LLC (2022–present) Guice Offshore (2014–2022) Harvey Gulf International Marine (2013) Abdon Callais Offshore (2010–2013)
Operator	SpaceX (2016–present) Guice Offshore (2014–2022) Harvey Gulf International Marine (2013) Abdon Callais Offshore (2010–2013)
Port of registry	Port Canaveral, Florida
Builder	Master Boat Builders, Coden, Alabama
Laid down	2009
In service	September 2010
Identification	Call sign: WDH3015 IMO number: 9591648 MMSI number: 366584000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class and type	Space capsule recovery vessel Platform supply vessel
Tonnage	497 GT 576 DWT
Length	51 m (167 ft 4 in)
Beam	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Depth	3.7 m (12 ft)
Decks	1
Installed power	1,750 hp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Caterpillar 3508B
Speed	22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity	32
Crew	6
Notes	[1]

MV Megan, formerly known as MV GO Searcher, 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 Shannon, are converted platform supply vessels now equipped to retrieve Crew and Cargo Dragon capsules after splashdown.

When a Dragon capsule is preparing to return to Earth, Megan or Shannon 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.