The first videos of a tower called “Mehazilla” appeared on the network, which will catch the Super Heavy rocket – the first stage of the Starship space system – on the SpaceX orbital launch complex.
The videos, on which the 140-meter steel tower is shown live for the first time, were published by the head of SpaceX Elon Musk and authors NASASpaceFlight.com website. Prior to this, the structure, which is located on the territory of the SpaceX spaceport in Texas, was shown only in the form of concept art.
When returning to the ground, the rocket will slow down with the help of engines and gently cling to the mechanical boom of the launch tower with aerodynamic rudders. This will allow you to install it exactly at the place of refueling and preparation for the next launch. The company expects that this method will significantly reduce the interval between launches compared to a traditional landing on a platform at sea.
According to Elon Musk, in the future, the process of returning Super Heavy and Starship to Earth will take place exclusively with the help of Mechazilla. The entrepreneur previously stated that the first orbital launch of Super Heavy could take place as early as January 2022, but in December the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it would take at least two more months to complete the environmental review of Starship orbital launches.
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