Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Industry (New Space)

SpaceX recovers Starship Ship 40 after first intact Indian Ocean splashdown for engineering analysis

SpaceX has towed Starship Ship 40 into a protected bay at Christmas Island after a 24-day voyage through the Indian Ocean. The vehicle, which achieved the program’s first intact ocean splashdown during Flight 13 on July 24, will undergo further analysis by SpaceX engineers ahead of the next test flight.

Discovered 2026-08-18T10:33:39.958398-07:00 | 2026-08-18T10:33:39.958398-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Ship 40’s recovery provides SpaceX engineers with access to a flown Starship vehicle after the program’s first intact ocean splashdown, enabling physical inspection beyond telemetry and remote imagery.
The 24-day tow and arrival at Christmas Island mark a new recovery operation for the Starship program; the vehicle’s condition and any findings will inform preparations for the next flight test.
SpaceX is assessing whether Ship 40 can be transported onward to Starbase, adding a logistics and infrastructure dimension to the vehicle’s post-flight analysis.

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