Starship is coming home! SpaceX loads floating spacecraft onto huge ship in the Indian Ocean (photos)
SpaceX has recovered a Starship spacecraft from the Indian Ocean and is transporting it back to Texas. The vessel was loaded onto a large ship after floating in the ocean for one month following its launch. The recovery operation took place near Christmas Island. The spacecraft is now in transit to the United States.
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- ✓ SpaceX recovered a Starship spacecraft from the Indian Ocean.
- ✓ The spacecraft is being shipped back to Texas.
- ✓ The recovery occurred one month after the vehicle launched.
What changed
SpaceX loaded the floating Starship onto a transport ship in the Indian Ocean for shipment to Texas.
Live updates
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SpaceX recovers Starship from Indian Ocean for return to Texas
SpaceX has recovered a Starship spacecraft from the Indian Ocean and is transporting it back to Texas. The vessel was loaded onto a large ship after floating in the ocean for one month following its launch. The recovery operation took place near Christmas Island. The spacecraft is now in transit to the United States.
Why it matters
Recovering hardware from ocean splashdowns allows SpaceX to analyze flight data and physical stress on the vehicle. This process informs the design of future iterations to improve reliability and reusability.
What is confirmed
- SpaceX recovered a Starship spacecraft from the Indian Ocean.
- The spacecraft is being shipped back to Texas.
- The recovery occurred one month after the vehicle launched.
Still unconfirmed
- The recovered vehicle is Starship 40.
- The spacecraft spent time near Christmas Island.
What to watch next
- Arrival of the spacecraft at the Texas facility
- Release of analysis data from the recovered hardware
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (6)
- Space — Starship is coming home! SpaceX loads floating spacecraft onto huge ship in the Indian Ocean (photos)
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch and is shipping it back to Texas
- ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Elon Musk's rocket heads home to US after Christmas Island sojourn
- BASENOR - Tesla Accessories — Starship 40 Recovered from Indian Ocean, Heading Home
- The Independent — SpaceX recovers Starship from the Indian Ocean a month after launch
- Yahoo — SpaceX's recovered Starship heads back to Texas after Indian Ocean odyssey
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