SpaceX Discusses Starship Recovery Plans Off Australian Coast

WASHINGTON — SpaceX is currently working with U.S. and Australian authorities to discuss the potential for a Starship landing and recovery operation along the Australian coast. The move marks a significant step toward establishing a stronger foothold for Elon Musk’s aerospace company in the region, according to three people familiar with the matter.

After a series of controlled descents by a group of Starships in the Indian Ocean in June, the company is looking to expand its testing operations. These landings and the subsequent recovery of the spacecraft’s thrusters are critical to the rapid reuse of this large spacecraft, designed to deploy satellites and carry astronauts to lunar destinations.

The imagined scenario involves launching Starship from the SpaceX base in Texas, landing it in the ocean near Australia, and then recovering it on Australian soil.

Insiders, who requested anonymity, shared that acquiring the necessary permits could require a relaxation of U.S. export laws regarding advanced aerospace technologies in Australia. The Biden administration has previously sought to amend similar restrictions under the AUKUS security pact involving the U.S., Australia and the U.K., aimed at mitigating Chinese influence in the region.

Neither SpaceX, the U.S. Space Force, nor the Australian Space Agency have released official statements in response to requests for information.

Ideally, recovery would occur after a landing at sea or on a ship, with possible sites considered along the western or northern coasts of Australia, the authors noted.

These talks reflect the United States’ intention to support Australia in strengthening its defense capabilities, to act as a check on China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

SpaceX’s proposal is seen as a reinforcement of the United States’ long-standing strategy to enhance its space defense initiatives and foster stronger civil and military space relations with Australia, thereby enriching its domestic space industry.

Recent discussions between SpaceX executives and government officials from the United States and Australia have focused on the regulatory challenges of conducting a Starship landing and recovery on foreign soil, according to sources. The timing of such a landing remains uncertain due to the ongoing nature of the discussions.

The proposed test landings are likely just the beginning of a broader plan for SpaceX’s engagement in Australia, which could eventually include launch operations from the continent or even direct retrievals from the ground near coastal areas, although these are still in preliminary discussions.