The rocket they fished from the sea is home in Texas

The top half of the world's biggest rocket is home. On a July test flight from Starbase, Texas, SpaceX's Ship 40 splashed down in the Indian Ocean — and instead of exploding or sinking like earlier prototypes, it touched down upright and stayed afloat. After weeks of rough seas, recovery crews towed it ashore on Christmas Island, an Australian territory, on Aug. 18. Then came the long trip home: it was recorded pulling into the Port of Brownsville, Texas, early Oct. 7, while local photographers gathered at the dock to watch. Months in salt water have likely ended its flying days, but engineers will take it apart to learn — the first time SpaceX has ever gotten one of these flown ships back.