SpaceX Vessels
Watch the Drone Ship Come Home
After landing a booster at sea, SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG) tows the booster back to Port Canaveral. The return voyage takes 2–5 days. When it passes through the jetties, it's a 300-foot ship with a rocket standing upright on its deck — absolutely worth watching from shore.
The Return Window
Drone ship landings happen 400–600 miles off the coast. ASOG travels at roughly 10–12 knots, so plan on:
- 2 days — LEO / Starlink missions (shorter downrange)
- 3–5 days — GTO or high-energy missions
Ships often arrive early morning (5–8 AM) to align with favorable tide windows through the port channel.
How to Know When It's Coming
No published schedule exists — the transit timing depends on sea conditions and port traffic. Your best sources:
- Live AIS — MarineTraffic and SpaceXFleet show real-time vessel positions
- Twitter/X — @SpaceXFleet posts every movement; @PortCanaveral announces arrivals
- SpaceXFleet.com — dedicated community tracker with vessel history
Once ASOG is within 12–18 hours of port, the @SpaceXFleet account typically posts an ETA.
Live Tracking Tools
MarineTraffic.com
Global AIS vessel tracker. Search "A Shortfall of Gravitas" or zoom into the Atlantic east of Cape Canaveral to find ASOG in real time.
Open Map ↗SpaceXFleet.com
Community-built tracker for all SpaceX ships. Shows ASOG, recovery tugs, fairing ships, and support vessels with voyage history.
Track Fleet ↗@SpaceXFleet on X
Automated account that posts every significant vessel movement, port arrival, and departure. Follow this for text alerts on your phone.
Follow ↗@PortCanaveral on X
The port's official account announces major vessel arrivals. Less frequent than @SpaceXFleet but official confirmation when the ship docks.
Follow ↗Best Spots to Watch the Ship Come In
The ship passes through a narrow channel — these spots put you right on the water.
Best Spot · Jetty Park
Jetty Park
400 E Jetty Rd, Cape Canaveral. Right at the port entrance — the ship passes within 200 feet. The jetty walkway gives you an unobstructed view of the entire channel. Arrive 30–60 min before the expected arrival. Parking lot opens at 7 AM.
North Side · Freddie Patrick Park
Freddie Patrick Park
On the north bank of the Port Canaveral inlet. Less crowded than Jetty Park, still a direct sightline across the channel as ASOG enters port. Free parking.
Waterfront Dining · South Side
Grills, Rusty's & Fishlips
Three waterfront restaurants along the south bank of the port — Grills Seafood Deck, Rusty's Seafood, and Fishlips Waterfront Bar. Order breakfast or lunch on the deck and watch ASOG glide past with a rocket on its back. Open as early as 7 AM.
