Breaking: SpaceX rocket towed towards Christmas Island after ocean landing

A SpaceX rocket has been towed towards Christmas Island after completing a successful mission and landing in the Indian Ocean. Locals on the remote Australian territory gathered along the rugged coastline to witness the unusual sight. Christmas Island Tourism Association chair David Watchorn expressed amazement at seeing the spaceship up close, stating that rumors had circulated about the rocket's potential visit.

The boats out were reportedly excited to get a closer look at the massive object. An exclusion zone was established to prevent vessels from getting too close to the debris. Local hospitality owner Rachel Kucera reported that her cafe had become a popular spot for people to gather and watch the space shuttle float past. Photographer Chris Bray, who usually focuses on wildlife, noted that the event had become the talk of the town.

Starship Ship 40, launched by US tech billionaire Elon Musk on July 24 from Texas, completed its mission and landed in the Indian Ocean far off the coast of Western Australia. Musk publicly confirmed last week that an effort was underway to retrieve the rocket. The Australian Space Agency is coordinating with SpaceX for the recovery operation.

The incident of space junk off Christmas Island follows a recent four-tonne abandoned upper stage of a SpaceX rocket crashing into the moon, raising concerns about space debris. Australia has seen several space junk incidents in recent years, including metallic "space balls" found on a Queensland beach and space junk from a Chinese rocket near a mine site in Western Australia.

In 2025, 4,510 launches were recorded globally, with the United States leading the way, followed by China and Russia.