SpaceX Unveils Starship S40 Recovery Footage

Official photos confirm that S40 has been successfully secured onto the Forte, a specialized semi-submersible vessel designed for such heavy-lift operations. The newly revealed imagery offers a detailed look at the complex stabilization system employed to secure the massive Starship during its transit across the ocean.

This multi-month voyage will allow engineers to gather extensive data on the vehicle's condition. The information collected from S40 is crucial for the rapid development of future Starship iterations, particularly regarding re-entry and landing performance.

With Starship S40 now aboard the Forte, SpaceX engineers have significantly improved access to the vehicle, enabling continuous inspection throughout its extended journey. While current access allows for detailed examination of much of the Starship, the ability to access internal payload compartments remains uncertain. There is a potential need for additional scaffolding or specialized platforms to be installed on the ship to facilitate comprehensive inspections of all sections.

Before S40 was loaded onto the Forte, engineers worked from small boats positioned near the waterline to conduct initial assessments. For inspections of higher sections of the vehicle, particularly the crucial heat shield, engineers physically climbed onto the enormous Starship. This hands-on approach underscores the immense physical scale of the Starship and the challenges involved in its recovery and preliminary inspection.

The primary objective of the S40 inspection is to meticulously understand what transpired during its re-entry, landing, and the subsequent 32 days of drifting in the ocean. Engineers are specifically focusing on S40's performance during the re-entry phase and its eventual landing sequence. A key part of the investigation involves studying the impact of its extended drift on the structural integrity and materials. Heat shield samples have been collected for detailed laboratory analysis to further inform future designs.

Two of S40's forward flaps are conspicuously missing, indicating severe stress during its journey. The remaining forward flaps show considerable erosion, a direct result of being exposed to seawater for over a month. Furthermore, the loss of heat shield tiles in several areas has exposed the underlying stainless steel structure, highlighting the intensity of re-entry forces and subsequent environmental exposure.

Many of the heat shield tiles appear fractured or shattered in various locations. Despite these damages, the overall extent of the damage is considered limited relative to the vast number of tiles that remain intact. The insights gained from this analysis could significantly streamline future inspection processes and improve heat shield designs.

The engines appear relatively clean, possibly due to the nature of methane-oxygen combustion. However, some Raptor vacuum engine nozzles and sea-level Raptor nozzles show signs of warped edges. Several sea-level engines also appear to have been displaced from their original mounting positions, no longer sitting evenly as they did prior to launch. Further in-depth analysis by SpaceX is required to fully understand the long-term effects of sea immersion on these critical components.

The initial test was scrubbed due to suspected issues with the Liquid Oxygen (LOX) BQD (Blast Quick Disconnect). The LOX BQD was reconnected on August 26th, and a new test schedule was announced for August 27th and 28th. Despite the apparent resolution of the suspected hardware issues, the test has effectively been postponed by another day compared with the revised schedule, indicating continued fine-tuning or unexpected delays.

NASA has revised the Artemis 3 mission, shifting its focus from a lunar landing to a low Earth orbit (LEO) test of the Orion spacecraft's docking capabilities with lunar landers currently under development by Blue Origin and SpaceX. Due to Orion remaining in LEO, the Space Launch System (SLS) will now fly without its Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). Consequently, CubeSats, which were originally planned for deployment above the upper stage, will not be able to fly on this mission. NASA is, however, reconsidering the inclusion of CubeSats for future Artemis missions, specifically Artemis 4 and 5.