SpaceX released orbital footage of Starship S40 and explained that the video was stitched together from recordings made by four separate cameras on a single Starlink V3 satellite.
Six satellites were equipped with cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit images to operators, the company said. The goal was to test methods for analyzing heat shield readiness for future return-to-launch-pad missions.
The primary purpose of the satellites was not live broadcasting but detailed imaging of the ship’s thermal protection system. During filming, Starship was deliberately oriented with its heat shield facing the satellites to allow cameras to capture the most critical sections of the hull.
SpaceX has not yet released a detailed condition report on S40’s heat shield tiles because the ship is still floating in the Indian Ocean. The test flight took place on July 25 and went nearly perfectly, and SpaceX has already prepared a recovery mission.
