After a period of 24 days, SpaceX recovered Starship 40 in the Indian Ocean, following a test conducted on July 24. The rocket began a long sea journey back to the company's headquarters in Texas.
The entire structure was collected by the team so that engineers could perform a detailed analysis. The maritime transport process to the United States is expected to take several months.
During its 65-minute suborbital flight, which departed from Starbase, Starship 40 launched 20 Starlink V3 satellites. These satellites reentered the atmosphere and burned up as expected, thus validating the payload system.
A notable point of this test was that the upper stage survived the water landing and remained intact, unlike previous tests. This recovery allows for the assessment of the material's actual wear without relying solely on telemetry data or fragments.
Rescue Operation Details
The operation required a specific methodology to remove the 52-meter-tall structure from the sea. After remaining in the water for 24 days, the vehicle was towed by the ship Normand Ranger to Christmas Island, which is part of Australian territory located south of Indonesia.
On site, the vessel Forte flooded its own deck by filling the ballast tanks, allowing it to position itself beneath the rocket. Subsequently, the vessel drained the water and lifted Starship 40 onto a custom-made support.
Sal Mercogliano, a specialist in maritime transport and history professor, commented on the lifting technique used, stating that ships like the Forte perform such procedures daily, being a very common practice in the shipping industry, whether with large objects, barges, cranes, or other vessels.
Although the exact route has not yet been disclosed by SpaceX, Sal Mercogliano estimates that the westward journey may take the Forte past the Cape of Good Hope. Ship monitoring indicates a probable arrival at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, scheduled for October 8.
SpaceX's ultimate goal is to ensure that Starship returns to its base in Texas and is captured by the launch tower, eliminating the need for another oceanic recovery.