Starship, which remained afloat in the ocean, returned to Texas after 75 days
SpaceX's Ship 40 spacecraft, which remained afloat on the water surface after landing in the Indian Ocean, has been returned to Texas. The vehicle, which is the upper stage of the Starship system, was brought to the Port of Brownsville on October 7 by the heavy-load carrier vessel Forte.
Starship, which did not sink in the ocean, returned to Texas after 75 days
Ship 40's journey began on July 24: the Starship transport system was launched from SpaceX's spaceport in Texas.
After completing the main tasks of the flight, the vehicle made a controlled reentry into the atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. However, it did not break apart or sink quickly as expected — it remained on the water's surface and continued to drift with the current.
The vehicle, which survived after the spaceflight and splashdown, provided an additional learning opportunity for the company. SpaceX decided to return it to land.
By inspecting Ship 40, engineers can study in detail how its structure endured the processes of atmospheric reentry and ocean splashdown.
Ship 40 was loaded onto the semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel Forte. Such a vessel partially submerges its deck during cargo loading. Once the cargo is positioned over the deck, the ship rises again, lifting it out of the water.
The Forte transported the vehicle across the Indian Ocean, bypassed Africa, and delivered it to Texas via the Atlantic Ocean.
Approximately 75 days passed from the flight on July 24 to the return to the Port of Brownsville on October 7. This period covers the vehicle's time in the ocean, its recovery, and maritime transport.
From the port, Ship 40 will be taken to SpaceX's Starbase complex. There, the vehicle will undergo post-flight inspections.