USNS Haiti Victory ( T - AK - 238 ) USNS " Haiti Victory " ( T - AGM - 238 ) was originally a " Greenville " " Victory " cargo ship which operated for the U . S . Navy as a cargo carrier in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean . In 1960 she was renamed USNS " Longview " ( T - AGM - 3 ) " Longview " - class missile range instrumentation ship and converted to use as a missile tracking ship which operated in the Pacific Ocean Western Test Range until she was placed out of service and eventually disposed of . Constructed in California . " Haiti Victory " ( T - AK 238 ) was laid down under U . S . Maritime Commission contract by Permanente Metals Corporation , Richmond , California , 24 April 1944 ; launched 20 July : sponsored by Mrs . Lucius Booner ; and delivered to the War Shipping Administration ( WSA ) 18 September . World War II commercial operation . During World War II she operated as a merchantman and was chartered to Waterman Steamship Company . Acquired by the Navy as a cargo carrier . Acquired by the Navy 1 March 1950 , " Haiti Victory " was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service ( MSTS ) , for cargo operations in the Atlantic Ocean . From 1950 to 1957 , sailing from New York City , she made cargo runs to Northern Europe , the Mediterranean , and the Caribbean . On 6 May 1953 , she collided with the British ferry Duke of York which resulted in the Duke of York having its bow section sheered off . On 15 June 1957 , " Haiti Victory " sailed on her first MSTS cruise to the Pacific Ocean . Steaming via the U . S . West Coast , the veteran cargo ship arrived Pusan , Korea , 1 August . Following several Far East cruises , she resumed operations in the Atlantic in July 1958 . Departing New York 11 July she steamed for the Eastern Mediterranean to support United States peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon . Units of the U . S . 6th Fleet had landed U . S . Marine s at request of Lebanese President Chamoun who wished to prevent a coup against his regime by communist oriented insurgents . While operating in the Mideast , she twice steamed through the Suez Canal , for cargo runs to Karachi , Pakistan . Returning to New York 3 January 1959 , " Haiti Victory " made another Mediterranean cruise prior to assignment in the Pacific . Arriving San Francisco , California , 4 April she operated off the West Coast until sailing for Hawaii 3 months later . Conversion to missile support . Arriving Pearl Harbor 3 July , she underwent conversion and training for a role in America ' s young space program . " Haiti Victory " found a place in history , when she became the first ship to recover a space vehicle from orbit . On 11 August 1960 , her helicopter retrieved a 300 - pound capsule that was launched into orbit the previous day by a Thor - Agena rocket as part of the Central Intelligence Agency ' s Corona spy satellite project . " Haiti Victory " was renamed " Longview " and re - classified " T - AGM - 3 " on 27 November 1960 . She continued operations in the Pacific Missile Range supporting the United States space program , performing a variety of scientific duties for the U . S . Air Force Western Test Range . Final disposition . " Longview " was transferred to the U . S . Maritime Administration ( MARAD ) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet , and was disposed of by MARAD at an unknown date .