SpaceX has recovered its Starship Ship 40 rocket after it drifted for 24 days [2] in the Indian Ocean.
The recovery of the massive spacecraft provides SpaceX with critical data on how the vehicle withstands long-term exposure to saltwater and ocean currents. This information is vital for the company's goal of creating fully reusable rockets capable of frequent interplanetary travel.
The rocket launched from Texas on July 24, 2026 [1], as part of a test flight designed to end with an intentional splashdown in the Indian Ocean. After nearly a month at sea, the vessel was spotted off the coast of Christmas Island, an Australian external territory [3].
Local residents and observers reported seeing the spacecraft being towed through the water. David Watchorn, the chair of the local tourism association, said he described the moment he first saw the recovery operation.
"I initially thought I was looking at ships on my way to work, before realising it was a rocket, a space rocket being towed," Watchorn said [1].
Photographers also captured the scene as the vessel was secured. Chris Bray, a photographer who documented the event, said it was "incredible to see" [4].
The recovery operation involved coordination between SpaceX and Australian authorities to secure the hardware [2]. While some early reports placed the rocket off the coast of Western Australia, multiple sources confirm the recovery took place near Christmas Island [3].
The reported recovery on Aug. 18, 2026 [4], marks the end of a journey that spanned thousands of miles from the Texas launch site to the remote Indian Ocean territory.
“"I initially thought I was looking at ships on my way to work, before realising it was a rocket..."”
The successful recovery of Ship 40 demonstrates SpaceX's ability to track and retrieve hardware in remote oceanic regions. By analyzing the physical state of the rocket after 24 days of saltwater immersion, engineers can improve the durability of future Starship iterations and refine the logistics of deep-sea recovery missions.
