In brief
A Falcon 9 rocket landed in the Indian Ocean on 24 July after a test flight from Texas and was later seen off the coast of Christmas Island. Local tourism chairman David Watchorn initially mistook the towering craft for a typical sea vessel before realizing it was the rocket being towed by a commercial vessel. Residents took to the water to observe and some left work early to get a close view of the rocket’s battered exterior. Watchorn described the sight as "absolutely incredible" and noted that the more people examine it the more fascinating it becomes.
A Falcon 9 rocket was spotted off the coast of Christmas Island after touching down in the Indian Ocean on 24 July, following a test flight from Texas.
Local tourism chief David Watchorn first mistook the unfamiliar vessel for a typical sea craft, before realizing it was the 52‑metre‑long rocket being towed in a commercial vessel.
Residents, some even leaving work to catch a glimpse, have reported ferrying their boats to the shadowed launchpad to inspect the rocket’s battered debris and intact design elements.
Watchorn described the sight as "absolutely incredible," adding that the more the rocket is inspected the more fascinating it becomes, underscoring the global reach of SpaceX’s testing programme.
