Private space tech company SpaceX is stepping up its at - sea rocket recovery operations , with five recoveries in two weeks , including two Falcon 9 cores , two fairings , which protect the payload during takeoff , and a Dragon cargo capsule . The company uses a fleet of recovery vessels for the operations , consisting of two autonomous launch droneships ( ASDS ) , a fast supply vessel and four crew vessels , operating out of ports on both the US east and west coasts . it over 20 knots before, IIRC. Construction of an additional droneship has been temporarily paused due to a reduction in expected launches of large geostationary communications satellites in 2019 .
Private space tech company SpaceX is stepping up its at - sea rocket recovery operations , with five recoveries in two weeks , including two Falcon 9 cores , two fairings , which protect the payload during takeoff , and a Dragon cargo capsule . The company uses a fleet of recovery vessels for the operations , consisting of two autonomous launch droneships ( ASDS ) , a fast supply vessel and four crew vessels , operating out of ports on both the US east and west coasts . Construction of an additional droneship has been temporarily paused due to a reduction in expected launches of large geostationary communications satellites in 2019 .