On the Way to Return, SpaceX facing Unexpected Issue with Ship 40 Towing...

We are witnessing the return of the King, in this case, the King known as S-40. Of course, similar to the Lord of the Rings script, this return is far from easy. From the retrieval in Australia, to the journey halfway across the globe, back to Starbase, the entire process is fraught with unprecedented challenges. So let's take a look at the key aspects of this historic recovery effort on today's episode of Great SpaceX. SpaceX fans are probably counting down the days until the S-40 returns to Starbase, but it will be a long journey with many things to come. So subscribe if you haven't already or if this is your first time watching our channel's video so you don't miss any updates on the S-40 recovery process as well as updates from SpaceX and Aerospace. Returning to this long journey, it will specifically consist of two stages. The first stage is from the landing site to Tampier, a distance of 850 nautical miles. Australia will be towed. Meanwhile, on the journey from Australia back to Starbase, the S-40 will likely be carried on a large barge. The first stage will probably be completed this month, while the journey back to Starbase could take 1-2 months. We will continue to provide updates related to this effort. You can return to the channel after this video if you haven't seen it or want to follow along more closely. The question now is, what challenges await the SpaceX team and S-40 on their months-long journey home? First, let's talk about the towing process. After being tracked by GO Australis, two other rescue barges, Norman Ranger and Skimmer Tide, approached. Upon arrival, Norman Ranger became the primary tow barge while Skimmer Tide monitored and assisted and GO Australis went ashore first. Satellite imagery of the towing process was captured. From those images, it can be seen that a tow rope was attached to the aft section, possibly at some point in the engine compartment or on the aft flaps. It appears that catenary towing was used to absorb shock. Additionally, the engine section was lifted onto a small floating platform and held in place by a rope with sea anchors to keep the engine out of the water, thus better protecting this critical system. Despite these preparations, problems still existed. We all understand that towing seems the most optimal method for the journey back to shore. The distance isn't too great and especially the need for an early recovery to minimize the impact of the ocean on S-40 and also because larger barges won't be able to arrive immediately. However, according to many discussions, Starship wasn't designed for towing, specifically it lacks fixed hook points. To tow an object of Starship's size and weight, the hook point must be stable. Without such a point, the rescue team would be forced to hook onto an existing one. This could damage that part, although we all understand it's no longer valuable since the S-40 can't fly again. Furthermore, the hook would only be temporary and could slip, requiring the rescue team to constantly monitor it throughout the journey. This is different from the Space Shuttle's solid-side booster. When designing, NASA was determined to recover those parts, so they equipped the latch to hook with a zipper. Thanks to that, recovery will be easy and will not cause damage to the other parts. Of course, we understand that Starship does not have such a part because it's intended to land by being caught by robotic arms at the launch site instead of being dropped into the sea. The case of S-40 is just a rare case of success. Although it received excitement, it was not the method they wanted to use later. Natural factors will also be an opponent. The ocean current is currently flowing westward, that is, opposite to the direction toward the shore. That makes the travel speed slow, with the fastest being two weeks and the slowest up to a month. The longer the time, the greater the risk and more affected the S-40 will be by sea conditions. Not to mention, moving doesn't always go smoothly. Some updates say that sometimes the convoy has to stop for unknown reasons, possibly to check something on the vehicle or on S-40, making the return progress even slower. This can also lead to stability difficulties. Countercurrents and waves can affect stability, causing shaking and rotation, which can affect the vehicle. Not to mention, during the trip, other risks may occur, such as flooding or sinking, because the S-40 is in a state where the heat shield face is on top while the leeward face is on the bottom. On this side, Starship has many holes, such as venting holes, fueling points, or payload doors. Water can flood in from here, causing the vehicle to flood or sink. Or if it doesn't sink, the vehicle's internal structures can still be damaged by sea salinity or hydrodynamic forces. Let's see how the S-40 will overcome this swim to return to the mainland. So once it's on land, are the challenges over? After landing, it will undergo initial analysis and wait for a large barge sent by SpaceX to transport the S-40. It's highly likely that that barge will be similar to the transport barge that SpaceX uses to carry fuel tanks, now modified to carry Starship. Or if they want a more powerful transport vehicle, they could hire a smaller carrier. This would allow the S-40 to be lifted onto the transport barge for transport to Starbase. Placing the S-40 entirely on a single vehicle is clearly a better way to protect it from the effects of seawater compared to towing. But the challenges remain significant at this stage. First, lifting it onto a large barge will require a large crane for support. But in Australia, the rescue team will likely have difficulty finding a suitable crane for them. After arriving at Starbase, another lifting step will be necessary to remove the S-40 from the transport barge. Additionally, SpaceX will need to prepare a transport stand to move the ship from the port to the production site. That stand will probably be different to support the hull lying down instead of standing up for safety. But the return journey at sea is the biggest challenge. The distance from Australia to Starbase is 10 times longer than the distance from the recovery location to Australia. Of course, when traveling from Australia to Starbase, the recovery barge may have more power allowing it to travel faster than the Norman Ranger tugboat, but I guess the time could still be up to 1-2 months, at least double the current towing phase. This will be the phase where SpaceX still needs to carefully protect the S-40. When lying horizontally on the barge, it needs support frames to prevent it from rolling when the barge is tilted by sea waves or when the barge changes direction. The rocket also needs to be covered to protect against salt water, wind, and waves. Don't forget, during transport, there is still a risk of further damage to the heat shields, flaps, or stainless steel structures due to vibration and corrosion. Another challenge is logistics and cost. If a heavy lift barge is chartered and not owned by the company, the company will need import and export licenses, particularly on the Australian side. The legal procedures will take time to complete, and chartering a barge for such a large shipment will be quite expensive. But looking at the positive side, despite the fraught risks of bringing the S-40 home, it'll be a strategic move entirely worth every drop of sweat from the engineering team. Behind the harsh challenges at sea lies an invaluable treasure. The most accurate and unprecedented real-world data. It's far more reliable than the data from previous flights. Previously, all assessments and simulations were based solely on theory, observations from live streams, or debris scattered from test flights. Now, handling, examining, and dissecting a complete structure that has just undergone a flight provides immense experimental value. In the short term, the preliminary information gathered immediately upon the S-40's arrival in Australia will serve as the key to the next milestone. Engineers can immediately leverage these real-world lessons to optimize for upcoming missions, especially for Flight 14. This flight marks SpaceX's first launch toward actual orbit, and also tests landing using the Mechazilla robotic arm system. All data on material strength, thermal armor wear, and the reaction of control surfaces from the S-40 will be crucial for fine-tuning the software and structure, increasing the probability of a successful orbital touch and a daring mid-air launch. In the long term, when this super-vehicle officially reunites with its Starbase headquarters via its trans-oceanic voyage, a comprehensive overhaul will begin. In-depth analysis of the hull down to the millimeter will reveal how flight-related factors affect the vehicle, followed by the impact of wind, saltwater, and hydrodynamic forces on a space vehicle in a real-world environment. These insights extend far beyond the limitations of a simple recovery. They form the core foundation for SpaceX's comprehensive upgrades to the next generation of Starship, providing a powerful impetus for bringing Starship into stable operation sooner. What then? The role of this valuable data extends beyond near-Earth orbit test missions. It's a crucial springboard for SpaceX's mission to return humans to the Moon as part of the NASA-led program. The safety, durability, and load-carrying capacity standards of Starship at every stage from take-off to landing must be absolutely paramount. Therefore, the practical lessons learned from the structural integrity, corrosion resistance, and thermal insulation efficiency of the S-40 will directly shape the version of Starship specifically designed for deep space. Thanks to this, the engineering team can confidently finalize the design for missions landing in The risky decision to recover the S-40 today is a strategic investment. Seemingly costly now, but a worthwhile price to pay for future success. Perhaps such an opportunity is something other companies or organizations will not have. We are witnessing a historic recovery effort. The long journey ahead for the S-40 is not simply a complex sea transport operation, but a glorious march of a machine that has overcome immense challenges in space. Now its challenge will come from the sea, the ocean, and the journey itself. From the tethers straining against the counter-currents in the waters off Western Australia to the moment it is securely placed on a barge bound for Boca Chica, every nautical mile is an unprecedented challenge. But each challenge will mark an unprecedented chapter in the history of reusable rocket manufacturing. This spectacular revival is transforming a potential wreck into a beacon guiding the future. As technical analysis begins on land at the Texas facility, the secrets of Starship flight that we have only seen on computer screens or phones will be revealed. That was the final piece of the puzzle that helped Elon Musk and his engineering team completely solve the problem of operating fully reusable vehicles on a large scale. The journey is still long and my team will continue to follow the S-40's journey home every day, every hour through this arduous but magnificent path. So keep following and checking notifications from our channel so you don't miss anything. And if you enjoyed today's episode don't forget to leave a like and subscribe to Great Space X 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.