The Secret Starship S40 Return Journey Revealed! What's Going On?

New images from SpaceX of the S40 recovery have just arrived. I'll start with what you've probably been waiting for, SpaceX's latest update on S40. In the previous episode, we talked about the moment S40 was loaded onto the recovery vessel. If you missed that episode, you can catch up on the channel. And if you haven't subscribed yet, now's a good time to do so. That way you won't miss the daily updates as S40 continues its long journey home. Now, back to S40. Until recently, most of our updates came from local sources and members of the recovery team. But everyone knew that sooner or later, SpaceX would release its own images. And now, they're here. SpaceX has released two updates showing S40 at different stages of the recovery operation. Let's start with the S40 recovery update. The post contains four images, including one showing the Forte partially submerged as it prepared to tow S40 onto its cargo deck. That's the moment we could only observe from distant footage in the previous update. And seeing it up close is seriously impressive. The following images show S40 first from a distance and then in much greater detail sitting inside Forte's cargo deck as the vessel resurfaces. The securing system is particularly impressive, keeping the enormous spacecraft stabilized and preventing it from rolling while the vessel moves across the ocean. SpaceX stated, Starship has now been loaded onto a semi-submersible ship to begin the several-month journey back to Starbase. Congratulations to the entire SpaceX recovery team for battling through challenging conditions to give our engineers access to a wealth of data to continue rapidly developing Starship. This marks an important transition. With S40 now aboard Forte, SpaceX engineers have much better access to the vehicle and can continue their inspection throughout the journey. And that raises an interesting question. Will engineers be able to go inside Starship as well? Perhaps even access areas such as the payload compartment? We don't know yet. For now, Forte appears to be preparing for the long voyage, likely taking on additional supplies and equipment. The recovery team may also need temporary structures, such as ladders, platforms, or scaffolding to make continued inspections easier. At the same time, another major decision has to be made. Which route will Forte take back to Starbase? That's something we'll be watching closely. SpaceX also released another set of images, this time showing S40 while it was still in the water. In these images, engineers can be seen approaching the spacecraft in small boats. For areas near the waterline, they worked directly from the boats. For higher sections, particularly the heat shield, engineers actually climbed onto the enormous vehicle. And these images once again show just how massive Starship really is. Standing next to it, a human looks almost like an ant on the back of a giant whale. Some of the images even capture the recovery team taking a few relaxed moments aboard S40. And I have to admit, I really like the image of engineers sitting and lying across the vehicle while carefully examining the heat shield. It looks surprisingly serene and chill. Would you want to experience that? I definitely would. If you feel the same way, comment plus one below. But relaxing and taking photos are obviously only a small part of the mission. The engineers' real job is much more important. Understanding exactly what happened to S40 during re-entry, landing, and its 32 days adrift in the ocean. SpaceX emphasized in this update, SpaceX engineers spent several days inspecting Ship 40 in the waters off Christmas Island. They collected heat shield samples and gained vital insight into how the vehicle handled re-entry, with improvements now planned on future vehicles. Clearly, the heat shield received special attention. That's understandable. It's relatively accessible compared with many other parts of the vehicle, and more importantly, it's one of the most critical systems for Starship's future. From the next flight onward, Starship will be operating closer to an orbital mission profile and will have to perform a controlled atmospheric re-entry and landing. Even without a Mechazilla catch attempt, the next ship will need to demonstrate the landing process as accurately as possible. That makes the data collected from S40 extremely valuable. And the close-up images reveal some fascinating details. First, two of S40's forward flaps are missing. The remaining forward flaps show significant erosion after spending more than a month exposed to seawater. Several heat shield tiles are also missing, while sections of ablative material have peeled away, exposing the stainless steel structure underneath. The edges of the heat shield show signs of corrosion as well, and similar effects can be seen around the aft flaps. Higher up the vehicle, we can still see patterns similar to those observed immediately after landing. There are white streaks associated with coolant leakage, along with several yellow-orange streaks. I don't think those orange marks necessarily indicate oxidation. They may instead be evidence of intense heating and combustion, particularly because several of them appear to originate from areas where the heat shield was heavily damaged. And those are the areas that really catch my attention. Some of the tiles appear to have severely been fractured or shattered. Fortunately, these damaged areas appear relatively limited compared with the enormous number of tiles that remained intact. That's encouraging. If SpaceX can learn from these damaged sections and incorporate the results into future heat shield designs, the next generation of Starships could eventually become much easier and faster to inspect and refurbish. We also got a look inside S40's engine bay. Surprisingly, the engines appear relatively clean. It's difficult to know how much of that is simply the result of seawater washing away residue, but the relatively clean combustion of methane-oxygen propellant may also play a role. However, there are still some obvious issues. The edges of the nozzles on one Raptor vacuum engine and one sea-level Raptor appear warped. Several sea-level engines also appear displaced from their original positions, no longer sitting as evenly as they did before launch. As a result of the prolonged time spent in the ocean, we'll need more analysis from SpaceX before drawing any firm conclusions. And that's what makes S40's journey so fascinating. The vehicle has already survived an orbital class flight, atmospheric re-entry, a sea landing, and more than a month in the ocean. Now it's beginning another journey. This time, back to Starbase, where engineers can study it in far greater detail. And I have a feeling this won't be the last impressive update we get from S40, so make sure you're subscribed because this long journey home has only just begun. Next, let's get back to S40 because I know many of you have been following this recovery very closely. We finally know which way S40 is heading. Previously, I expected Forte to begin its journey to Starbase a few days after S40 was loaded. The recovery team needed time to prepare supplies, equipment, and tools for the long voyage. But there was another major question. Which route would they take? Now we have our answer. Forte has officially started moving west from Christmas Island. The latest navigation map shows that the vessel is no longer sitting near Christmas Island. Instead, it's heading west by southwest, which effectively rules out the Pacific route. Before, there were two main options. Crossing the Panama Canal or continuing west around Africa. Overland transport from the California coast would add major logistical challenges, while the Panama Canal would require navigating its complex lock system. So the route around Africa now appears more practical. From there, Forte could either round the Cape of Good Hope and cross the Atlantic, or use the Suez Canal and continue through the Mediterranean. Given Forte's current heading and the logistical and security considerations, the Cape of Good Hope route appears most likely. And the journey home is already underway. The vessel has reportedly been traveling at more than 14 knots, and current estimates suggest Forte could arrive in Texas around the 8th of October. That's roughly 40 days from now, which could put S40's arrival at a very interesting point in Starship's schedule. With Flight 14 expected around mid-September, S40 could return to Starbase before Flight 15, giving SpaceX a valuable opportunity to inspect the recovered vehicle and apply what it learns to future missions. Meanwhile, SpaceX still has time to refine B-21 and S41 using data from previous flights. So as S40 continues its long journey home, the recovery itself could become another important chapter in Starship's path toward full reusability. You know, I read the comments on our S40 update the other day, and I'm really glad to see that you're still following its journey and supporting its return. So if you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to the channel to receive the latest updates on SpaceX and the aerospace industry. And if you missed a notification because you were busy or because of a notification issue, just head directly to our channel. We publish new videos daily, so there's always something new to discover. And now, here's a gift for you. In the latest update, S40 has officially left the water and been loaded onto the recovery vessel Forte at Biscaylas. The operation took place during the day on August 26th, local time, which would have been the night of August 25th in our time zone. And honestly, it's an impressive sight. The recovery method was almost exactly what ChromeKiwi predicted in the 3D simulation we discussed in the previous video. As mentioned, Forte is a semi-submersible, heavy-lift vessel capable of lowering its cargo deck approximately 13 meters below the water's surface. And that's exactly what happened. Nearby footage shows Forte submerging its cargo deck while approaching S40. The vessel then connected to S40 using two lines. One line was attached between S40's nose cone and the vessel's control room, while the other connected the aft section of S40 to one of Forte's two buoyancy casings. With those connections secured, S40 could be towed toward the submerged cargo deck. Before the operation, several yellow retaining pins had been installed on the deck to help keep S40 from rolling during the loading process. The vehicle was then carefully aligned on the water's surface until it was positioned directly above the cargo deck. And once everything was in place, Forte began to rise. As the vessel resurfaced, S40 was lifted out of the water and settled onto the deck where it could be secured to the anchors. It was a remarkably clever recovery method. Rather than requiring enormous cranes to lift a massive starship directly out of the ocean, Forte essentially positioned itself underneath the vehicle and lifted it by raising its own deck. And that marks a major milestone in S40's extraordinary journey. After 32 days, or approximately 774 hours since splashing down in the Indian Ocean, S40 has finally left the water. Its journey has been almost as dramatic as the flight itself. For more than a month, the vehicle was exposed to saltwater, rough waves, storms, and the harsh marine environment. The conditions were severe enough that even one of S40's forward flaps was lost. But now, S40 has entered a completely new phase. It's still far from home, but at least it's no longer sitting in the ocean. On the recovery vessel, S40 is better protected and much easier for engineers to inspect. They can now directly examine the vehicle and potentially learn how it survived splashdown in more than a month at sea. That data could be incredibly valuable for future starships. Meanwhile, Forte will prepare for the next and much longer leg of the journey. The big question now is which route S40 will take back to Starbase. The two most practical options appear to be around the Cape of Good Hope or through the Panama Canal. We'll have to wait and see which route SpaceX chooses. But for now, there's one thing worth celebrating. After 32 days in the ocean, S40 is finally out of the water. Its journey home has officially entered a new chapter. Next, let's turn to a major delay affecting Chang'e 7, China's flagship lunar mission. Chang'e 7 is part of China's highly ambitious lunar exploration program. And if it had been launched as planned, it would have been one of the year's most significant lunar missions. But now, weather has thrown the entire schedule into uncertainty. Chang'e 7 was originally scheduled to launch from the Wanchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island. Then Tropical Depression Nangka began developing in the Gulf of Tonkin, just west of Hainan. With the weather deteriorating, Chinese officials were forced to delay the launch. Initially, the target was simply moved back by one day to August 24th. But that window also became impossible. Eventually, the launch was postponed indefinitely and the rocket was returned to its factory. The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on the 23rd, citing the China Manned Space Agency. China's Chang'e 7 lunar probe does not meet launch conditions and its launch therefore cannot take place during the planned window this year. And that's where things become complicated. Chang'e 7 can't simply launch whenever the weather improves. The mission depends on a precise Earth-Moon alignment, creating a limited launch window. Some reports suggest a September launch is still possible, while others point to 2027. For now, China hasn't provided a definitive timeline. Whenever it launches, though, Chang'e 7 will be worth watching. The mission includes an orbiter and lander, with the lander targeting the Moon's south polar region. A possible destination is near Shackleton Crater, although the final site hasn't been confirmed. That's an extremely important region because permanently shadowed craters may contain significant deposits of water ice. Chang'e 7 will investigate those resources using a rover and a hopping robot designed to explore the difficult terrain. And lunar water could eventually become far more than a scientific discovery. It could support life support systems and potentially be converted into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. That's why Chang'e 7 matters beyond a single robotic mission. It's another step toward China's long-term lunar ambitions and another challenge for the United States, NASA, and SpaceX to keep pace. And now, let's turn to the latest update on ULA's leadership. It's safe to say that after Tory Bruno's departure, the company gradually lost some of the attention it once commanded within the aerospace community. ULA needed a new leader capable of guiding the company into its next phase. And now, that person has emerged. The United Launch Alliance has named Mark Peller, a longtime ULA manager and executive, as its new president and chief executive officer. ULA announced on the 17th that Peller had been promoted He had previously served as the company's chief operating officer and succeeds John Elbin, who had been serving as interim CEO since December. Elbin had already planned to retire from ULA after eight years as chief operating officer, with Peller originally expected to succeed him. However, when longtime CEO Tory Bruno unexpectedly left the company, Elbin stepped in as interim chief executive. According to ULA board members Kay Sears, the company selected Peller after a months-long process that considered both internal and external candidates. She said, Mark's background, coupled with his extensive knowledge of both ULA's business and technical offerings, make him the best candidate to fill the CEO position. And Peller certainly has the experience. He has spent more than 35 years working at ULA and its predecessor companies. His career began in 1990, when he joined Rockwell International as a propulsion engineer working on the space shuttle program. After Boeing acquired Rockwell's space business in 1996, Peller moved into Boeing's Delta launch vehicle programs the following year. Then in 2006, Boeing and Lockheed Martin combined their launch vehicle operations to create ULA. Peller went on to become chief engineer for the Delta II and IV programs. Later, he served as ULA's senior vice president for Vulcan and advanced programs before becoming chief operating officer last December. Now he has inherited a company facing some serious challenges. Peller said, I am honored to take on this role, leading a truly amazing team of people and appreciate the confidence the board has in me. He also emphasized ULA's long history of national security and exploration missions while expressing confidence in Vulcan's future. But Vulcan is currently one of ULA's biggest challenges. ULA had targeted 16 to 18 Vulcan launches in 2026, but its first launch suffered a performance anomaly involving one of its four solid rocket boosters. Although the mission succeeded, Vulcan hasn't flown since. The prolonged grounding has also created financial pressure, with Lockheed Martin and Boeing providing loan guarantees totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. And even after the booster issue is resolved, another concern remains. Vulcan uses Blue Origin's BE-4 engines, which also power New Glenn. Blue Origin recently traced an explosion during a New Glenn static fire test to a liquid oxygen valve in the BE-4 and said it was making modifications to the component. So Peller takes over ULA at a difficult moment, facing a grounded Vulcan, financial pressure, engine concerns, and increasingly aggressive competition. Now, we'll see whether his experience can help ULA overcome these challenges and finally unlock Vulcan's full potential. In any case, folks, if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a like, subscribe to GreatSpaceX, 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 we'll see you in the next one.