Morrelli and Melvin and Parker Shinn unveil design of rocket recovery vessel

Morrelli and Melvin Design and Engineering and Parker Shinn Design and Development have unveiled a concept design for a sea-going vessel built specifically for recovering boosters and other parts of rockets that have fallen to earth following space launches.

The concept quadmaran vessel will consist of four seven-metre-long individually rotating hulls mounted at the ends of a 27- by 27-metre “X” frame. Each hull will be powered by a 223kW outboard engine.

The individually rotating hulls will enable the platform’s orientation to remain constant even during “sway” turns or movements made in lateral directions without having to turn the entire vessel.

The vessel will have a maximum speed of 30 knots and will be capable of sway turns of as high as 8.9 metres per second.