SpaceX Starship 40 Arrives at Christmas Island: Extra Divers Heads Out on Nemo
- Extra Divers Staff
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
From Space to the Indian Ocean: Extra Divers heads out on Nemo to see Starship 40
Christmas Island woke up to something very different this morning.
After spending almost a month floating in the Indian Ocean, SpaceX Starship Ship 40 was being towed towards Christmas Island as part of an unprecedented recovery operation.
We woke up to the news and, as you can imagine, wanted to see it for ourselves.
So we jumped aboard Nemo, our Extra Divers dive boat, and headed out to take a look.
And yes, it really is enormous.
What exactly is Starship 40?
Ship 40 is the upper stage of SpaceX's Starship system, a reusable spacecraft designed to carry people and cargo into space.
At approximately 52 metres long and 9 metres across, it is about the length of a 17-storey building laid on its side. It is designed to work together with SpaceX's Super Heavy booster, which provides the enormous thrust required to leave Earth.
Starship is being developed by SpaceX with the ambition of creating a fully reusable transportation system for space.
And Ship 40 is now sitting in the Indian Ocean off Christmas Island.
From Texas to Christmas Island
Ship 40 launched from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas on 24 July 2026 as part of Starship Flight 13.
The flight was a major test for the Starship program.
After launch, the Starship upper stage travelled into space, deployed 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, performed an in-space Raptor engine relight and then began its journey back towards Earth.
The really remarkable part came at the end.
Ship 40 completed a controlled descent and splashed down in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Remarkably, it remained afloat, creating an opportunity for SpaceX to attempt its recovery.
That wasn't necessarily how the vehicle was expected to end its mission, but its survival created an extraordinary opportunity for SpaceX: could they actually recover a Starship from the ocean?
An unexpected recovery mission
SpaceX decided to try.
The recovery operation has taken weeks, with the vehicle having to be towed through challenging Indian Ocean conditions.
For around 24 days, Ship 40 remained at sea while SpaceX and its recovery vessels, Go Australis & Normand Ranger; worked to move the enormous spacecraft towards Christmas Island.
Today, 18th August 2026, it finally arrived in the sheltered waters close to the island.
The Australian Government, through the Australian Space Agency, has been coordinating with SpaceX on the recovery operation.
A 500-metre exclusion zone has been established around Ship 40 and the recovery vessels, so while it is an incredible sight, vessels should keep well clear and allow the recovery operation to continue safely.
From diving to spaceflight
For us at Extra Divers, it was a pretty surreal morning.
We're normally heading out on Nemo to find Christmas Island's famous underwater wildlife — endemic fish, hybrid fish, reef sharks, turtles, rays, dolphins and the incredible healthy coral reefs surrounding the island.
Today, we were looking at something completely different.
A 52-metre spacecraft that had travelled from Texas, into space and back down into the Indian Ocean was sitting just offshore.
And we were looking at it from our dive boat Nemo.
Christmas Island has always been a place where the unexpected happens, but this one is certainly different.
Why Ship 40 matters
The significance of Ship 40 goes beyond the spectacle.
One of SpaceX's major goals with Starship is reusability — building spacecraft that can be launched, recovered and flown again rather than being discarded after a single mission.
SpaceX has already demonstrated the ability to recover and catch Super Heavy boosters at its Texas launch site.
Ship 40 is different.
It was never designed simply as a boat, yet it survived a controlled ocean splashdown and remained afloat long enough for SpaceX to attempt a recovery.
That makes what is happening off Christmas Island an unusual chapter in the development of reusable spacecraft.
Christmas Island gets a front-row seat
For a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, having a SpaceX Starship arrive offshore is certainly not something anyone expected to see on the morning commute.
For the local community, it has quickly become the talk of the island.
And for visitors, it is another reminder of just how unusual Christmas Island can be.
One day you're diving beneath the surface looking for a whale shark or endemic fish..
The next, you're heading out on Nemo to look at a spacecraft that has just returned from space.
Welcome to Christmas Island.
Extra Divers Christmas Island
Based on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, Extra Divers offers scuba diving, snorkelling and marine experiences and Accommodation around one of Australia's most unique tropical islands.
Follow us for more photos and video from today's extraordinary sight offshore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is SpaceX Starship 40?
SpaceX Starship 40, also known as Ship 40, is the upper stage of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft. It is approximately 52 metres tall and 9 metres in diameter and is designed as part of SpaceX's fully reusable Starship launch system.
Where is SpaceX Starship 40 now?
Starship 40 has been towed to the waters off Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean following its test flight and splashdown. The spacecraft is currently part of a recovery operation involving SpaceX vessels.
Why was Starship 40 towed to Christmas Island?
Starship 40 remained afloat after its controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX subsequently began an operation to recover and tow the spacecraft, with Christmas Island becoming the location for the recovery operation.
Where did Starship 40 splash down?
Starship 40 splashed down in the Indian Ocean following its July 2026 test flight from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas.
How big is SpaceX Starship 40?
Starship 40 is approximately 52 metres tall and 9 metres in diameter. Its size makes it an impressive sight from the water around Christmas Island.
Can you see Starship 40 from Christmas Island?
Starship 40 can be seen from parts of Christmas Island, although an exclusion zone has been established around the spacecraft and recovery vessels. Boats should keep outside the designated exclusion zone and follow directions from authorities and the recovery operation.
What does Extra Divers have to do with Starship 40?
Extra Divers is a Christmas Island dive,snorkelling & accommodation operator. When we woke up to the news that Starship 40 was being towed towards Christmas Island, we headed out on our dive boat Nemo to see the spacecraft from the water and capture photographs and video.
Is Starship 40 the same as the entire Starship rocket?
No. Starship 40 is the spacecraft's upper stage. The complete Starship launch system consists of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster, which provides the thrust required to launch the vehicle from Earth.
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