In this episode of What's Going on with Shipping, we dive into the intersection of maritime salvage and space exploration as SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 sits adrift in the Indian Ocean. Following a successful splashdown, the challenge now shifts to how—and if—this massive craft can be brought back to shore. ⚓SpaceX's Splashdown Success: A breakdown of the Starship V3 flight and its unexpected survival in the Indian Ocean. ⚓The "Difficult" Debate: Why towing a rocket isn't as simple as it looks on social media. Salvage Assets on Station: An analysis of the Go Australius, Norman Ranger, and Skimmer Tide currently heading to the site. ⚓Towing vs. Heavy Lift: Exploring why traditional recovery methods like cranes or semi-submersibles are near-impossible in open ocean swells. ⚓The Long Haul to Dampier: Calculating the 750-nautical-mile journey back to Western Australia and the risks of sinking or structural failure. Contact What's Going on With Shipping via: Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping Twitter: @mercoglianos Bluesky: @mercoglianos.bsky.social Facebook: @wgowshipping Email: mercoglianosal@gmail.com 00:00 - The Starship Flight 13 Splashdown 01:30 - The Challenge of Open Ocean Towing 03:30 - Lessons from Space Shuttle Booster Recovery 05:30 - Analyzing the Starship's Condition at Sea 07:20 - Tracking the Recovery Vessels via Marine Traffic 09:40 - Why Heavy Lift and Cranes Aren't Viable 12:00 - Case Study: Towing the SS United States 13:45 - The Specs of the Norman Ranger Tow Vessel 15:30 - Rigging a Tow to a Stainless Steel Starship 17:30 - Risks: Flooding, Sinking, and Telemetry 19:00 - The Long Journey to Dampier, Australia 20:15 - Final Thoughts: The Future of SpaceX Salvage Space X https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-13 https://x.com/SpaceX Marine Traffic www.marinetraffic.com Normad Ranger https://www.solstad.com/wp-json/solstad/api/vessel/545/pdf Skimmer Tide https://www.tdw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SKM-BROCH-T17965-R01.pdf