An unprecedented operation involving the Starship spacecraft was successfully conducted near Christmas Island, an Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 500 km south of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
Michal Václavík, an astronautics specialist from the Czech Space Office (CSO), confirmed via the X platform that the Starship was properly placed onto the semi-submersible vessel Forte, operated by the Dutch company Boskalis. This procedure is considered a significant advancement in the process of rescuing space vehicles after flight tests.
The Starship (S40), used in this operation, participated in SpaceX's 13th test flight, which took place on July 24. After completing its mission, the spacecraft returned to the atmosphere and executed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, drifting for several weeks.
Teams dedicated more than three weeks to towing the Starship to an area of calmer waters near Christmas Island. This transport required extreme care to prevent any damage to the vehicle's structure throughout the process.
According to information from the Australian broadcaster ABC, the Forte used its ballast tanks to partially submerge its deck. With the vessel partially submerged, the Starship, which is about 52 meters long, could be positioned on the structure. Subsequently, the tanks were emptied, allowing the ship to return to the surface and lift the spacecraft out of the water. This maneuver enabled the removal of the vehicle from the ocean without the need for on-site disassembly.
Despite being in the water for weeks, the main structure of the Starship remained preserved, which will provide crucial data for SpaceX engineers.
Currently, the Forte is expected to begin crossing the Pacific Ocean with the Starship aboard, heading towards Starbase, the SpaceX complex located in Texas, United States, at a distance of 17 thousand kilometers. SpaceX has not yet issued an official statement regarding the expected arrival date.
Upon arrival, the spacecraft components will undergo meticulous analysis. Items of greatest interest include the thermal protection system, the engines, and other parts exposed to severe conditions during the flight. The collected data will help the company understand the behavior of the Starship after a complete flight and a long period submerged, thus contributing to the development of future versions of the vehicle and increasing safety in increasingly complex missions.