Two weeks after SpaceX's thirteenth Starship test flight, the vehicle's upper stage remains under tow toward the coastline. The salvage effort, described as unprecedented, began shortly after splashdown and aims to recover the engine and structural components for detailed analysis.
The operation employs specialized vessels pulling the massive stage across hundreds of kilometers of sea. Teams must account for ocean currents, weather conditions, and the integrity of the hardware after prolonged exposure to seawater. Company officials say this is the longest and most complex attempt to retrieve a flown stage from the ocean.
Elon Musk commented briefly on his platform, stating that the chances of a successful recovery are currently low. He noted that unforeseen damage from impact and extended saltwater immersion could severely hinder reuse prospects.
Despite the skeptical outlook, SpaceX continues the operation to gather as much data as possible. Insights gained are expected to inform future upgrades to the heat shield, propellant tanks, and overall Starship architecture.
If the salvage ultimately succeeds, the recovered hardware could provide valuable data on re-entry limits. Should the effort be abandoned, focus would likely shift to the next flight test campaign, where modifications to the flight profile and landing strategy will be evaluated.