SpaceX Starship towed to Christmas Island after Indian Ocean recovery

SpaceX has successfully towed the Ship 40 Starship upper stage to the waters off Christmas Island after it spent approximately 24 days adrift in the Indian Ocean. The 52-meter spacecraft originally splashed down on July 24 following the company’s 13th test flight from Starbase, Texas. Although engineers initially expected the vehicle to be lost, the stainless steel hull remained intact, providing a rare opportunity for close-up analysis.

The recovery effort, coordinated with the Australian Space Agency, faced significant challenges due to rough seas and difficult maritime conditions. The arrival of the massive rocket has become a major spectacle for the local community on the remote Australian territory.

A team of SpaceX engineers is traveling to the island to conduct detailed inspections in calmer waters. Following this analysis, the company will attempt to return the vehicle to Starbase in South Texas. Because the spacecraft is too large for air transport, it must be transported by sea, a journey that could take a considerable amount of time.