[00:00] Returning from flight 13, S-40 achieved something no starship had ever done before.
[00:13] It survived a flashdown without turning itself into a very expensive fireworks display. If your first reaction was, wait, it didn't explode, you're not alone.
[00:25] For the first time, SpaceX has a largely intact starship after landing. landing. A milestone that could become one of the most important in the program's history. So how does SpaceX plan to recover S-40? What can engineers learn from studying it? And why
[00:41] could this battle-tested spacecraft help shape every starship that follows? Let's find out in today's episode of Great SpaceX. One thing we've learned over the last few years is that every starship flight pushes
[00:53] the program farther than expected. Each launch achieves another seemingly impossible milestone and every failure provides lessons no simulation could. We're still in the earliest chapters of Starship's story,
[01:06] with plenty of incredible moments still ahead. So if you haven't already, subscribe to follow every breakthrough with us and be among the first to know what happens next. Now let's get back to S-40.
[01:18] After surviving one of the most demanding journeys any spacecraft can endure, S-40 re-entered Earth's atmosphere and executed an impressive splashdown in the Indian Ocean. That alone made Flight 13 a success.
[01:32] But what happened next surprised almost everyone, as 40's upgraded heat shield performed remarkably well during re-entry, or perhaps I should say, the world's most artistic-looking heat shield,
[01:44] with dramatic coolant streaks that made it look like Starship had just driven through an intergalactic paintball tournament. Jokes aside, those striking patterns reflected real engineering progress.
[01:56] While SpaceX still has challenges to overcome, Flight 13 showed meaningful improvements over previous missions. If you'd like a closer look at Starship's thermal protection system, be sure to check out our previous episode dedicated to its heat shield.
[02:11] Today's story begins after S-40 touched down. Anyone who's followed Starship knows the usual sequence. Splash down, a brief moment of hope, then boom. S-40 changed that.
[02:24] After landing, the vehicle slowly rolled onto its side as small fires flickered and steam drifted into the air. Everyone waited for the explosion that never came. The live stream ended and S-40 was still floating.
[02:37] That alone was unprecedented. Even better, because the spacecraft remained largely intact, cameras captured close-up views of the heat shield, flaps, engine section, and even parts of the vehicle below the waterline.
[02:50] For the first time, engineers weren't studying scattered debris. They were examining a starship that had survived its landing. And that was only the beginning. Updated information released after the mission indicated S continued transmitting signals to mission control for roughly 24 hours after splashdown Think about what that means
[03:12] Its communications system, electrical hardware, and other critical onboard systems kept operating long after landing. That's an extraordinary achievement for a spacecraft that had just survived orbital velocities, the intense heat of reentry, violent deceleration, and an ocean splashdown.
[03:29] Then another intriguing piece of evidence emerged. A blurry satellite image reportedly showing a recovery vessel approaching S-40. Based on available estimates, it was taking roughly 56 hours after splashdown.
[03:44] Remarkably, S-40 was still floating. While the image wasn't perfectly clear, it suggested the spacecraft had remained afloat for more than two days, highlighting its durability. The longer S-40 stays intact, the more valuable it becomes.
[03:58] Once a spacecraft survives the immediate aftermath of landings without exploding, the chances of a delayed explosion drop significantly. As it cools, most hazards from residual heat fade, leaving the electrical system as the primary concern.
[04:14] Even if damaged wiring were to short-circuit from constant wave action, the risk appears low, and the surrounding seawater would likely prevent a small fire from becoming a catastrophic event. In other words, S-40 could remain in roughly its current condition for quite some time.
[04:29] That's excellent news for SpaceX, because this isn't just another spacecraft drifting in the ocean. It's a floating archive of real-world engineering data, and the company has every reason to preserve it. Until now, most of the information gathered from Starship test flights has come from telemetry, onboard sensors, and video footage.
[04:48] Those data sources are invaluable, but they can only reveal so much. Recovering the spacecraft changes the equation entirely. Instead of relying solely on digital data, engineers can inspect the vehicle firsthand.
[05:00] They can examine damaged structures, measure wear, disassemble components, and compare their design predictions with what actually happened in flight. It's the difference between studying a medical scan and performing the operation itself.
[05:15] One provides clues, the other provides answers. And for SpaceX, this isn't entirely uncharted territory. After Flight 4 in 2024, engineers recovered engine components from B-11's aft section.
[05:29] Following Flight 6, SpaceX also recovered parts of B-13, including composite overhead pressure vessels. Those recoveries were valuable, but impact, deep water pressure, corrosion, and prolonged saltwater exposure limited detailed analysis.
[05:47] S-40 is different. For the first time, SpaceX could recover a largely intact starship instead of scattered debris. Previous starships either exploded after splashdown or landed too far offshore to justify recovery.
[06:01] This time, the vehicle survived, making its engineering data far more valuable. So how could SpaceX bring S home Based on Flight 13 published splashdown coordinates it landed in the eastern Indian Ocean near western Australia Crews could stabilize it there before transporting it back
[06:20] to Texas. Possible routes include sailing west around southern Africa, northwest through the Suez Canal, or east across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal. Another option is delivering S-40 to a U.S. West Coast port for overland transport
[06:34] to Texas. Whichever route SpaceX chooses, the journey will likely take one to two months. So, let me ask you, are you looking forward to seeing S-40 finally make it back to Starbase?
[06:46] If you are, let everyone know in the comments by typing, Come Home S-40. Now let's talk about what happens after recovery. Personally, I think S-40's analysis will happen in two phases.
[06:59] The first begins as soon as the vehicle reaches Australia. Although engineers won't have Starbase's full capabilities, they can perform rapid inspections that may influence the next Starship flight,
[07:11] currently expected as soon as August. According to Musk, that mission could attempt Starship's first full orbital flight before returning to Starbase for a catch by the launch tower's chopstick arms.
[07:23] Every insight from S-40 could help improve the vehicle assigned to that mission. Waiting months for S-40 to reach Texas simply isn't practical. Instead, SpaceX will gather as much data as possible during the initial recovery, using every observation, measurement, and photograph to support continued development without slowing the launch schedule.
[07:43] The second phase begins once S-40 returns to Starbase. With four engineering facilities available, teams can conduct detailed inspections of the heat shield, Raptor engines, fuel systems, structural components, engine bay, COPVs, and electrical systems.
[07:59] Every bolt, bracket, weld, and wire adds another piece to the puzzle, providing the clearest picture yet of how a reusable Starship performs after orbital flight and the atmospheric reentry. The lessons learned won't just benefit the next launch, they'll help improve Starship's design, reliability, and reusability for years to come.
[08:19] Engineers can use the data to refine the Raptor engines, improve heat shield durability, strengthen propellant tanks, optimize COPV placement, reduce structural loads,
[08:31] and enhance long-term usability. Every advancement builds on the lessons before it, and S-40 may become one of SpaceX's most valuable teachers. The timing couldn't be better.
[08:43] Starship's next goal is deploying operational payloads the larger V-3 Starlink satellites built to take full advantage of its payload capacity. Flight 13 previewed that future by deploying 20 simulated Version 3 Starlink satellites
[08:57] while testing in-space communications. Because the mission followed a suborbital trajectory, the satellites eventually re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up. The next milestone is placing operational V-3s to orbit,
[09:09] and the data from S-40 will help make those missions more reliable. Beyond that comes orbital refueling a capability essential for missions to the moon Mars and beyond Since a single Starship can carry enough propellant for deep space missions multiple vehicles must rendezvous in orbit and transfer fuel before continuing their journey
[09:29] It's an extraordinarily complex operation that demands exceptional reliability. That's why S-40 matters. Every lesson from this mission brings Starship one step closer to its long-term ambitions.
[09:41] Looking further ahead, 2027 promises to be one of the busiest years in Starship's history. One of Starship's next major milestones is supporting NASA's Artemis III mission.
[09:53] Before then, SpaceX is expected to conduct another key demonstration flight. According to the latest Government Accountability Office report, that mission is currently targeted for around February of next year,
[10:05] and we'll cover it in more detail in a future episode. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues developing the human landing system variant of Starship. Although it includes specialized upgrades, it shares the same core architecture as today's vehicles, making the lessons from S-40 directly applicable.
[10:22] Improvements to structural strength, thermal protection, engine performance, fuel efficiency, flight control, and aerodynamic loads will all benefit future lunar missions. S-40 won't transform the human landing system overnight,
[10:36] but every lesson strengthens the engineering foundation for Artemis and beyond. That's how progress happens, one test and one improvement at a time. Looking back, Flight 13 may ultimately be remembered as much for what happened after Splashdown,
[10:51] as for everything that happened before it. S-40 survived. It stayed afloat, kept communicating, and gave SpaceX its first opportunity to study a nearly intact Starship in detail.
[11:04] Its heat shield, flaps, engines, electronics, and other major systems contain real-world data that no simulation can fully replicate. Early inspections in Australia could influence the next Starship flight, while a full analysis at Starbase may shape future designs for years,
[11:19] improving everything from Starlink deployments and orbital refueling to lunar missions and eventually flights to Mars. That's a remarkable legacy for a spacecraft that simply refused to explode.
[11:31] As humanity pushes deeper into space, Starship remains one of the boldest engineering projects ever attempted, and one waterlogged spacecraft in the Indian Ocean could play a pivotal role in that story.
[11:44] Before Starship's next giant leap, all eyes may be on the ocean waiting for S-40 to begin its journey home. And who knows, the toughest Starship ever built may still have one more surprise in store. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a like, subscribe to GreatSpaceX,
[11:59] and ring the notification bell so you never miss the latest updates on Starship, SpaceX, and humanity's exciting journey into the future of space exploration. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you next time.
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