SpaceX’s launchpad at Starbase, located near the Gulf of Mexico in the southernmost tip of Texas, is making headlines for its unique features. The large metal arms, which resemble a hug for the rocket, are a departure from the typical launchpad setup. CEO Elon Musk has even dubbed this structure “Mechazilla.”
The plan for these arms is groundbreaking – SpaceX hopes to use them to catch the Starship spacecraft mid-air as it returns from a trip to space. While this maneuver has never been attempted before, it is similar to the method SpaceX uses to land and recover its other rockets. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket pioneered propulsive landing, completing a soft touchdown of its booster in April 2016.
The main difference for Starship is that SpaceX plans to fly the rocket booster straight into Mechazilla’s giant metal arms, catching it before it hits the ground. While SpaceX won’t attempt to land Starship or Super Heavy during its upcoming launch, they will attempt to test out a landing maneuver by reigniting Super Heavy’s engines about six minutes and 30 seconds into flight. Later in the flight, the Starship spacecraft may attempt a similar belly flop maneuver as it heads in for landing over an hour after liftoff.
SpaceX’s daring and innovative approach to recovering its spacecraft is a testament to the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. As the launch date approaches, the world will be watching to see if this ambitious maneuver will be successful.