Elon Musk's SpaceX Plans Starship Splashdown In Australia

SpaceX is negotiating with U.S. and Australian officials to land and recover one of its Starship rockets off the coast of Australia.

This initiative marks a potential expansion for Elon Musk’s company in the region, aligning with the countries’ strengthened security ties.

Following a successful Starship rocket splashdown in the Indian Ocean in June, SpaceX is eager to extend its testing. These controlled landings and subsequent recoveries are crucial for the rapid development of their reusable rocket aimed at satellite launches and lunar missions, reported Reuters.

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SpaceX plans to launch Starship from Texas, land it in the sea near Australia, and recover it on Australian territory. This would necessitate easing U.S. export controls on advanced space technologies.

There are also ongoing discussions about towing the Starship to ports on Australia’s western or northern coasts.

The talks reflect U.S. efforts to bolster Australia’s military capabilities amid regional tensions with China. SpaceX’s potential operations in Australia could enhance bilateral space defense collaborations and support Australia’s growing space industry.

Recent discussions have focused on regulatory challenges for bringing a recovered booster to Australia.

Future plans might include launching from Australian facilities or land-based booster recoveries. Historically, SpaceX tested its Falcon 9 landings at sea before transitioning to land.

The 400-foot-tall Starship is designed to be fully reusable, capable of launching satellites, landing astronauts on the moon, and potentially transporting military cargo globally within 90 minutes.

The June test flight demonstrated its potential, as the Starship achieved a controlled splashdown after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.