SpaceX recovers Starship spacecraft Elon Musk once feared lost to sea
SpaceX has recovered its Starship spacecraft, Ship 40, intact after it was feared lost at sea. The spacecraft was towed to waters off Christmas Island on August 18, 2026, eleven days after Elon Musk expressed concerns about its recovery. This marks the first time a Starship upper stage has been recovered intact after returning from space.
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- ✓ On August 7, 2026, Elon Musk said Ship 40's ocean recovery was "not looking good".
- ✓ Ship 40 was towed intact to waters off Christmas Island on August 18, 2026.
- ✓ This is the first Starship upper stage ever recovered intact after returning from space.
What changed
The Starship spacecraft, Ship 40, was successfully recovered intact and towed to Christmas Island on August 18, 2026.
Live updates
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SpaceX recovers Starship spacecraft intact after 24 days at sea
SpaceX has recovered its Starship spacecraft, Ship 40, intact after it was feared lost at sea. The spacecraft was towed to waters off Christmas Island on August 18, 2026, eleven days after Elon Musk expressed concerns about its recovery. This marks the first time a Starship upper stage has been recovered intact after returning from space.
Why it matters
The recovery of Ship 40 is significant for SpaceX as it demonstrates the company's ability to retrieve and reuse its Starship spacecraft, a crucial step towards achieving its goals for future space missions. The successful recovery comes after a challenging 24-day period at sea, during which the spacecraft was tugged through rough waters.
What is confirmed
- On August 7, 2026, Elon Musk said Ship 40's ocean recovery was "not looking good".
- Ship 40 was towed intact to waters off Christmas Island on August 18, 2026.
- This is the first Starship upper stage ever recovered intact after returning from space.
What to watch next
- Further details on the condition of the recovered Starship spacecraft
- SpaceX's plans for future Starship missions and recovery attempts
- The impact of this recovery on SpaceX's development and testing schedule
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (6)
- USA Today — SpaceX recovers Starship spacecraft Elon Musk once feared lost to sea
- Space Daily — On 7 August, Elon Musk said Ship 40's ocean recovery was “not looking good.” Eleven days later, on 18 August, it was towed intact to waters off Christmas Island — the first Starship upper stage ever recovered intact after returning from space.
- Ars Technica — Against all odds, SpaceX finally tugs Starship into port after 24 days at sea
- The Guardian — SpaceX Starship the talk of remote Australian island as Elon Musk’s engineers sent to retrieve it
- Space — Starship lives! SpaceX craft arrives at Christmas Island after 24-day ocean ordeal
- Gizmodo — SpaceX Finally Recovers Starship After 24 Days of Tugging It Through Rough Waters
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