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SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch and is shipping it back to Texas
The recovered upper stage will support engineering analysis as SpaceX aims to reuse Starship for future missions, including NASA’s lunar plans.
- On Friday, SpaceX's Starship 40 departed Christmas Island aboard the heavy-duty transport vessel Forte, beginning its journey back to the United States after successful retrieval from the Indian Ocean.
- The 52-metre-long craft became stranded after its 13th flight test on July 24, spending 24 days in the Indian Ocean before being towed to Christmas Island about 1,500 kilometres off Western Australia's coast.
- Local stevedores assisted the retrieval operation on Tuesday, with crews filling The Forte's ballast tanks to submerge the vessel's deck and position the rocket for loading.
- University of Sydney Professor of Marine Robotics Stefan Williams noted such operations cost $50,000 to $100,000 daily, underscoring the significant financial investment required for rescue and transport back to Texas.
- SpaceX engineers gain valuable data from the first intact upper stage, and Astronomer Matt Woods says the program helps make space exploration more affordable for universities and research organizations.
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SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch and is shipping it back to Texas
SpaceX has pulled off its biggest salvage operation yet, recovering its most recently launched Starship from the Indian Ocean.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources69
Leaning Left13Leaning Right8Center41Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Center
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources are Center
66% Center
L 21%
C 66%
13%
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