What is "Mechazilla," SpaceX's massive metal launch tower?
Today — for the second time in SpaceX’s agressive test campaign for Starship — the company will attempt to put a unique and daring concept to the test.
If all goes according to plan, once it separates from the Starship spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster will steer itself into the arms of Mechazilla, a massive structure back at SpaceX’s launch site that the company hopes will catch rockets mid-air as they head in for landing.
The tower was dubbed “Mechazilla” by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for its likeness to a metallic Godzilla.
The structure’s arms, or “chopsticks,” can be used to stack and move boosters and spacecraft at the launch site before takeoff as well as snag a rocket as it maneuvers to land, according to SpaceX.
Though the maneuver worked successfully during SpaceX’s last test launch in October — executives have indicated there is still plenty of work to be done before the company is comfortable with this nail-biting maneuver.
SpaceX also has the option to wave off the landing attempt and send Super Heavy to a splashdown in the ocean.
“Analogous to the fifth flight test, distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, which will require healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director,” SpaceX said in a statement. “If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only take place if conditions are right.”
Either by Mechazilla capture or ocean splashdown, the Super Heavy’s landing will occur about seven minutes after liftoff.
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