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SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch and is shipping it back to Texas
The 52-meter upper stage will return to Starbase after 24 days at sea, giving engineers data from SpaceX's first intact Starship recovery.
- 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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Associated Press News+18 Reposted by 18 other sources
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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SpaceX recovered Starship from the ocean and what happened next is a long trip
This image provided by SpaceX on Aug. 27, 2026, shows engineers inspecting Starship off the coast of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, following its launch on a test flight back in July.
·Fort Worth, United States
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Total News Sources51
Leaning Left13Leaning Right2Center36Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
71% Center
L 25%
C 71%
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