The unusual scene has led to a mix of humour, excitement and concern online.
Some users praised the spacecraft for surviving its return to Earth and splashdown. One person called it a “soft splashdown success”, while another said it was impressive to see the vehicle still floating.
Others were more curious about the next step. Several users asked whether SpaceX planned to bring Starship back to shore and inspect it for damage.
There were also concerns about the impact of leaving such a large spacecraft in the ocean. One commenter questioned whether it could be harmful to the marine environment, while another accused Musk of appearing to glorify marine pollution.
Some of the replies were clearly made in jest. Users joked about installing an outboard motor and wheels on the next Starship, while another joked that a Chinese submarine had latched on to the spacecraft and was towing it away.
The comments also showed how unusual the sight was for many people. One user said the spacecraft looked much smaller on the water than it does in the air, while another pointed out that its actual size is likely difficult to understand from the image.