The high-stakes maritime salvage of a space shuttle's massive rocket boosters

Space · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After the final Space Shuttle mission, NASA didn't just let the hardware sink. A complex underwater operation involving neutral buoyancy, 1,100-pound plugs, and specialized ships was required to rescue the massive solid rocket boosters from the Atlantic Ocean for refurbishment.

Following the final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135, on July 8, the recovery of the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) began with a coordinated maritime operation. Two specialized ships, the Liberty Star and Freedom Star, were stationed approximately 10 miles from the splashdown area. About seven minutes after liftoff, the boosters parachuted into the Atlantic, where the ships moved in to begin a multi-stage retrieval process designed to preserve the hardware for future use.

The recovery is a feat of marine engineering. It begins with the retrieval of the main parachutes and the 5,000-pound frustum, which is lifted from the water using a ship's power block and deck crane. The most technical phase involves a dive team of eight people using two small inflatable boats. These divers must install a Diver-Operated Plug (DOP)—a 22-foot, 1,100-pound piece of equipment—into the booster's nozzle at a depth of about 110 feet. This plug is designed to be neutrally buoyant, allowing divers to guide it into the aft skirt.

Once the DOP is secured and sealed, the ship pumps air through the plug to displace the water inside the booster casing. As the air fills the interior, the booster rises until it becomes top-heavy and falls horizontally on the surface like a log. After being towed to Cape Canaveral, the boosters are moved from a stern tow to a hip tow for better control through the Canaveral Locks. Finally, they are lifted by Straddle-Lift cranes and placed on rail cars for disassembly and refurbishment in Utah.

This process highlights the transition from high-energy propulsion to meticulous salvage. By recovering these segments, NASA ensures that the materials and components of the Shuttle era are not lost to the sea, but are instead processed at Hangar AF and stored for potential reuse or study.

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