- SpaceX is negotiating with U.S. and Australian authorities to land and recover its Starship rocket off Australia’s coast, marking a potential expansion of SpaceX’s presence in the region.
- This plan, which hinges on easing U.S. export controls, aims to strengthen military ties between the two nations and advance SpaceX’s testing campaign for reusable rockets.
OUR TAKE
SpaceX is in talks to land and recover its Starship rocket off Australia’s coast, aiming to expand its presence and strengthen U.S.-Australian space and military cooperation, which reflects a strategic move to enhance its testing capabilities and solidify international partnerships.
-Lilith Chen, BTW reporter
What happened
SpaceX is negotiating with both U.S. and Australian officials to obtain permission to land and recover its Starship rocket off the coast of Australia. This development marks a significant step for SpaceX as it seeks to expand its regional testing and operational capabilities.
The background of this initiative stems from a successful controlled splashdown of a Starship rocket in the Indian Ocean in June, which has driven SpaceX to pursue further testing of its reusable rocket technology. The plan under discussion involves launching the Starship from SpaceX’s facility in Texas, having it land in the sea near Australia, and then recovering it on Australian territory.
Achieving this would require changes in U.S. export controls on sophisticated space technologies destined for Australia. These talks are part of broader efforts to bolster security ties between the U.S. and Australia, especially under the AUKUS security alliance, which includes the United States, Australia, and Britain.
Also read: FAA Greenlights SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for Launch
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Why it’s important
It is worth noting that, if approved, the recovered Starship booster would ideally be towed to a port on Australia’s western or northern coasts. This collaboration underscores the U.S. commitment to assisting Australia in building up its military capabilities to counter regional threats, particularly from an increasingly assertive China.
Additionally, this initiative would further SpaceX’s long-term goals of developing its presence in Australia, potentially leading to future launches from the continent or land-based recoveries of Starship boosters. This follows SpaceX’s established pattern with its Falcon 9 rocket, initially landing in the ocean before transitioning to land-based recoveries.
This move represents a strategic expansion of its testing and operational capabilities. The potential easing of export controls and the integration within the AUKUS security alliance highlights the geopolitical importance of this collaboration. Overall, this step underscores the critical role of international partnerships in advancing space technology and bolstering defense frameworks.
