Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly in talks with Australian and American officials to test-land and recover one of its Starship rockets off Australia’s coast after launching it from the US state of Texas.

Reuters reports the discussions were confirmed by three sources with knowledge of the plans.

The sources reportedly said landing Starship in the ocean or on a barge off Australia’s western or northern coasts was seen as ideal, although timings remained unclear.

The report comes after Australia and the US signed a new treaty to allow more American rockets and satellites to be launched from Australian soil.

The Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) came into force on 23 July, and has been described as “a great deal for Australia and our space industry” by Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic.

“With the TSA in place, it’s estimated Australian spaceport operators could supply between 45 and 95 space launches over the next decade, with a value of between $460 million to $1.2 billion,” Husic said in a speech to the Australian Space Forum last month.

“This would be a massive uptick for Australia’s launch sector which was worth $27 million in the 2021-22 financial year.”

In response to questions from Information Age about SpaceX, a spokesperson for the Australian Space Agency said the organisation was “currently engaging with domestic and international companies looking to explore opportunities”, but would not share details.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.

Washington has previously sought to loosen restrictions on sending sophisticated space technologies to Australia and the United Kingdom, which are part of the AUKUS trilateral security group.


Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says Australia's treaty with the US will boost the local space industry. Photo: Australian Space Agency / Supplied

SpaceX allegedly plans greater Australian presence

Reuters reported its sources said SpaceX’s proposed test-landings off Australia “likely would be the first phase of a larger future Australian presence for SpaceX”.

The news agency said its sources believed SpaceX could one day launch rockets from Australia or land a booster rocket on Australian soil rather than in its waters.


Australia's space agency says it is 'engaging with domestic and international companies'. Photo: Australian Space Agency / Supplied

SpaceX’s 121-metre tall, two-stage rocket Starship made its first controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean on 6 June.

The rocket’s Super Heavy booster simulated a landing on a “virtual tower” in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Ship component of Starship underwent a controlled splashdown.

Some previous test flights had ended with Starship disintegrating before any safe landing could be achieved.

Starship’s next test flight is expected in August, and could involve testing an on-land tower catch landing of the Super Heavy booster.

SpaceX repeatedly tests its rockets and boosters in order to improve their designs and reusability.

The company says Starship represents “a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond”.

SpaceX has also been studying how to use Starship for US military deliveries under a contract with the Pentagon.

That program is expected to escalate in 2025 under deeper collaboration with the US Space Force.

NASA’s Artemis III mission plans to use SpaceX’s Starship to return humans to the Moon in 2026.