In brief
Following a test launch from Texas, a SpaceX rocket touched down at sea and was subsequently towed off the coast of Christmas Island. The 52‑metre vehicle drew crowds of workers and boat‑crew who were eager to see the battered spacecraft up close. Tourism chair David Watchorn described the sighting as unexpectedly thrilling, noting that the rocket’s history is better than the students’ comic books can capture. Locals’ reactions ranged from celebratory selfies to speculation about the rocket’s endurance. The incident underscores the growing visibility of private space ventures around the world.
After a recent test launch from Texas, a SpaceX booster landed in the Indian Ocean and was later taken aboard a tug along the coast of Christmas Island, provoking a wave of curiosity among locals. The 52‑metre, green‑and‑gray vehicle appears battered, yet its engineering resilience remains a topic of discussion.
David Watchorn, chair of the Christmas Island Tourism Association, told the BBC that at first he mistook the gleaming white hull for passing vessels before realizing it was a spacecraft. "It seemed like a rocket, a space rocket," he said. His remark has since echoed across the island’s workplaces.
Local residents, eager for a fleeting moment in history, sneaked out of their jobs to take photos, while other crews prepared boats to view the debris up close. Some noted the impressive corrosion resistance of the booster, while others simply admired the scale.
Watchorn revealed his fascination: "It's really incredible to think about what it's been through," he added, adding that the further one looks at the rocket, the more fascinating it becomes.
