SpaceX has returned the Ship 40 upper stage to its Starbase facility in South Texas. This marks the first time a Starship upper stage has been brought back to the launch site following a space flight.
The 52-meter vehicle launched on July 24 during the 13th test flight, propelled by the Super Heavy Booster 20. It performed a suborbital flight and successfully landed in the Indian Ocean without sustaining major damage.
The recovery operation involved a 24-day tow through stormy seas to Christmas Island for inspection. The ship was then transported to the Port of Brownsville on the vessel Forte, arriving on October 7.
Ship 40 is now positioned vertically in the Megabay hangar. Engineers will analyze its heat shield, Raptor engines, and avionics to refine future designs for rapid reusability.
While SpaceX has previously recovered three Super Heavy boosters using launch tower arms, it has not yet returned an upper stage to the site under its own power. Data from Ship 40 will support this goal.
