SpaceX Lands Starship Ship 42 on Its Own Launch Pad

SpaceX landed Ship 42 on the same launch pad from which it departed a day earlier, demonstrating a pad-return capability for the upper stage. The landing was observed remotely from Antarctica, underscoring the global reach of the event.

Ship 42 lifted off the day before its landing. SpaceX was unable to recover the associated booster on that flight, though the company has already proven booster recovery more than once in prior attempts.

The landing was relayed in near real time to a researcher stationed in Antarctica. Dale Andersen, who is conducting astrobiology research at Lake Untersee, sent word moments after the landing. Andersen watched the event via Starlink, the satellite internet service.

The successful touchdown of Ship 42 on its departure pad marks a demonstrated capability for returning the Starship upper stage to the point from which it launched. While the booster was not recovered on this flight, SpaceX has previously shown it can bring the booster back on more than one occasion.

Further Starship flights and recovery attempts, including efforts to pair upper stage and booster returns, remain the next focus following this landing.