SpaceX has initiated a post-flight inspection of the Starship Ship 40 vehicle at the Starbase facility. The spacecraft was successfully transported to the Mega Bay 2 hangar after spending 75 days at sea following the completion of the Flight 13 mission.
The Flight 13 mission took place on July 24, 2026. During the flight, the vehicle deployed satellites, performed an in-space engine restart, and completed atmospheric reentry. The mission concluded with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, which was reported as the softest landing in the program's history.
Following the splashdown, the ship remained intact and afloat. It was recovered near Christmas Island and transported to the facility aboard the vessel Forte. Engineers are now analyzing the structural integrity and flight data to evaluate the potential for future reuse of the upper stage.
