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Finn Falgout

Tugboat · SpaceX

Finn Falgout is the primary tugboat used by SpaceX to tow its autonomous drone ships to and from landing zones in the Atlantic Ocean.

Specifications

OperatorSpaceX
TypeTugboat
Status● Active
Home PortPort Canaveral, Florida
CoastEast Coast (Atlantic)
Length42m (138ft)
Name OriginChartered tugboat — named vessel
Associated VehiclesFalcon 9 Block 5

Overview

While SpaceX's drone ships have their own station-keeping thrusters for maintaining position during a landing, they rely on tugs like Finn Falgout for the longer journey to the landing zone and back to Port Canaveral. The tug escorts the drone ship to a position 300–650 km offshore, then stands off at a safe distance during the booster landing before escorting the ship back to port.

Finn Falgout is particularly critical for maintaining SpaceX's rapid launch cadence. With launches sometimes occurring every 2–3 days from the East Coast, the turnaround time for positioning, landing, and returning a drone ship is tight. The tug enables 12-hour turnarounds in some cases — departing port with an empty drone ship almost immediately after the previous one returns with a booster.

Key Features

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