SpaceX recently posted a photo on Twitter of damaged rocket hardware being lifted out of the ocean. The hardware was from the Super Heavy first-stage booster that flew on SpaceX’s most recent Starship test flight in June 2022.
After the June test flight, both the Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster survived atmospheric reentry, but splashdown in the ocean caused some damage. The photo shows a piece of the Super Heavy booster with 14 Raptor engines still attached.
It’s unclear why SpaceX salvaged this hardware from the sea, as Elon Musk did not provide a reason. Some speculate it was to examine the engines further or prevent them from falling into other hands.
SpaceX is preparing for Starship’s fifth test flight, but likely won’t get approval from the FAA until late November. The FAA says more review is needed of the environmental impact and recent modifications to the vehicle and flight plan.
Once operational, SpaceX aims to use the fully reusable Starship vehicle to transport people and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Both Starship and Super Heavy will be powered by SpaceX’s Raptor engines during flight.
Source: Space
