Starship survives 24 days in the ocean: damaged Ship 40 towed to shore, Musk promises catch with the tower

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft (Ship 40) has been successfully towed to the shores of Australia's Christmas Island after its 13th test flight. The vehicle made a soft landing in the Indian Ocean on July 24, 2026, and spent approximately 24 days at sea.

The 50-meter vessel was brought ashore by the tugboat Normand Ranger and other support vessels. Photographer Sviatoslav Shanygin captured detailed images showing the Raptor engines, damaged heat shield tiles, and the distinctive hexagonal pattern of the thermal protection system. Despite significant damage to the tiles and exposure to saltwater, the hull remained intact and the spacecraft stayed afloat throughout the recovery operation.

SpaceX engineers have already arrived on site for a thorough inspection. While reusing this particular vehicle is unlikely due to its prolonged submersion in seawater, the data collected on the condition of the heat shield and overall structure after a real atmospheric reentry and landing will be invaluable for future iterations. This marks the first time a Starship has been recovered intact after a soft water landing and successfully towed to shore.

Elon Musk stated that SpaceX aims to catch a returning Starship using the launch tower within the next few months. According to him, the first reflight of the spacecraft could take place shortly after that milestone is achieved. The company is now analyzing the recovered hardware to refine its designs and accelerate the path toward orbital reuse.