Elon Musk’s company is negotiating with US and Australian authorities to land and recover the Starship spacecraft on Australian shores. As journalists know ReutersThe talks began after Starship first docked in the Indian Ocean in June, prompting SpaceX to look for larger test opportunities.
The proposed plan calls for Starship to launch from Texas, land in the water off the coast of Australia and then return the ship to Australian territory. This would require adjustments to U.S. export controls on advanced space technologies.
The logistics of towing Starship to a port on Australia’s western or northern coast are still being discussed, and there’s also talk of SpaceX’s future plans in Australia, which could include launching or landing rockets from its home soil.