Starship Floats: SpaceX Recovers Rocket from Indian Ocean

SpaceX's Starship prototype, designated Ship 40, successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean following its 13th test flight on July 24, 2026. Unlike previous prototypes, Ship 40 remained airtight and afloat, a significant improvement attributed to all six engines functioning and a controlled reentry.

This development is critical for SpaceX's ambition to rapidly recover and reuse its Starship vehicles, a feat crucial for reducing launch costs. Recovery efforts are now in progress, with SpaceX utilizing Norwegian tugboats Normand Ranger and Skimmer Tide, alongside the Go Australis, to tow the prototype back to land. Satellite imagery from early August 2026 captured the ongoing recovery operation.

The Starship program, while marked by both successes and failures over three years and 13 test flights, is vital for SpaceX's long-term goals. These include lunar missions for NASA, deploying Starlink satellites, and ultimately, carrying humans to Mars. The recent performance of Ship 40 fuels optimism for future attempts, potentially including dry-land landings.