During the 13th test flight of the Starship system on July 24, SpaceX employed drones and a purpose‑built buoy camera to record the upper stage’s re‑entry and landing sequence.
How the footage was captured
The drones hovered near the predicted splash‑down point, while the buoy camera, mounted on a floating buoy, provided close‑up views from the water’s surface.
The video shows the Starship upper stage slowing its descent, firing its engines briefly, and settling softly on the ocean without apparent structural damage.
These observations are vital for refining the reusability approach that SpaceX plans to use for future lunar and Mars missions.