July 18, 2025: 1:29 PM Eastern
NASASpaceflight.com is currently tracking a developing situation involving the salvage of SpaceX Starship booster parts off the coast near Brownsville, Texas. The construction and salvage ship LB Jill appeared on the Port of Brownsville’s manifest, explicitly stating “To Load Rocket Parts 1 M/T,” strongly suggesting salvage operations of rocket debris from previous Starship flights.
The vessel has been maintaining position near an area where rocket debris from a previous launch may have drifted due to ocean currents. On Saturday, a video on Facebook showed the aft end of a booster, likely B13, being lifted out of the water.