SpaceX brings Starship stage back to Texas for inspection

SpaceX returned Ship 40 to Starbase, Texas after it survived a splashdown in the Indian Ocean in July.

The vehicle is the second stage of Starship flight test IFT-13, which launched from Starbase on July 25, 2026.

Unlike other Starship stages that reached the water, Ship 40 stayed intact instead of tipping over and exploding.

That gave engineers a rare chance to examine hardware after a flight through space and reentry.

SpaceX says it will study the flown heat shield, engines and avionics to learn how they performed.

The company aims to make Starship reusable, and has recovered three first-stage boosters but has not yet caught a Ship at its launch site.

The FAA is considering a request for up to 456 launches and 912 landings a year at Starbase and is inviting public comments.

In-person meetings are scheduled for November 17 and 19, with a virtual meeting on November 18, and comments are due by November 30, 2026.