How realistic is SpaceX's idea of catching the LARGEST rocket ever built?

Mechazilla does more and more testing! But what exactly is it capable of? How does it move, and how precise will it have to be to catch a Super Heavy Booster? Is all this even doable? Let’s find out!

Editing: Stefanie Schlang
Photography: Kevin Randolph

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Credit:

⭐SpaceX
⭐NASA
⭐RGV Aerial Photography on Twitter: @RGVaerialphotos
⭐RGV Aerial Photography on YouTube: @RGV Aerial Photography
⭐LabPadre on Twitter: @Labpadre
⭐LabPadre on YouTube: @LabPadre
⭐SpaceX 3D Creation Eccentric on Twitter: @Bl3D_Eccentric
⭐SpaceX 3D Creation Eccentric on YouTube: @Spacex 3D Creation Eccentric
⭐C-bass Productions on YouTube: @C-bass Productions

✔️Twitter: @FelixSchlang

📄Links for this Episode:

[Whataboutit]

What do you think? Will SpaceX have difficulty achieving the first successful catch, or will they get it right on the first try?

[Scoutski]

Something I think is important to keep in mind is the fact Starship and Superheavy have hovering capabilities while Falcon did not. A single Merlin engine at its lowest level of thrust at about 40% (someone fact check me on this) still gives Falcon such a high TWR that it’s not capable of hovering. Therefore Falcon needs to perform a “hoverslam” maneuver when it lands where the two factors to worry about is velocity and accuracy.

Starship and Superheavy however, with their Raptor engines and substantial weight gain can achieve TWR of around 1 making the two stages capable of hovering and allow even more accurate landings as they can fine-tune their approach unlike the Falcon which has to slam on the breaks at the last second. The only factor to worry about is accuracy in this case.

[rydercameron]

Ep.200 I can remember the early episodes where it was just Felix on his own making videos for no other reason but that he wanted to spread the word of something truely special. Congratulations on the milestone, and keep it up!

[c.i.demann]

I think you've made a good case that the Booster and Starship can be caught. All I can add is that if there IS a crash, it won't be a concrete landing pad that gets blasted with heat and fuel and rocket parts, it will be a very complex and expensive tower. Since there's a decent chance one of the first catch attempts will be unsuccessful, I hope Mechazilla doesn't sustain too much damage.

[joeteichert]

Cool overlay of the Starship landing area with the drone ship. I was wondering how much margin they had, and now I have a good sense of it. Thanks!

[BrandonScottDrums]

Congrats on 200 Episodes Felix! It's been a pleasure watching your channel grow. Thanks for keeping me informed on all things space!

[davidbierbaum]

I'm betting that there will be at least one major incident involving either the rocket bumping into the tower structure, or tank rupture from the stresses of capture.

[mathisnaert]

Didn't even notice it has been 200 episodes already thank you for all the hard work!

[FerSeverini]

Hi Felix & team,
Thanks for making the pandemic more bearable with excellent information

[bikeninja]

thanks for all the awesome info! anyway, for the life of me, I cannot wrap my mind around how fast spaceX moves in building all this stuff. I don't understand how you can have that level of co-ordination. I work in the design field, with CAD, on various projects, sometimes in teams, and even on small projects, R&D and getting to prototype stage is a super tedious and time consuming process. These guys are working with MASSIVE structures, incredibly complex designs with a staggering number of different specializations, and they make it look like they're pumping out hot cakes by the dozen. It's amazing but also absolutely mind boggling.

[antonzanki]

Episode 50? Wow! I’ve been with you since maybe 3/4 or more of that and proud to Patreon. I think I’ve brought you many new viewers along the way. Hoping for a soon/come meet and greet along the Gulf Coast.

[NorthernChev]

They’re going to have to tear down and completely rebuild Mechazilla when the first booster misses and explodes tearing everything in the area up. Most likely taking out the tank farm too. This is going to be very exciting to watch.

[SteveBueche]

Space X has never gotten it right on the first try. I’m not expecting it this time either. Let’s just hope it doesn’t damage too much in this attempt.

[fabiomangiarotti]

Greetings from ITALY!
Despite my level of English is not so high, the way Felix speaks is perfect and allows me understand at least the 90%! And with the subtitles that are often present, I reach the 100%.
Go on this way, please, Felix. You are great!
Fabio

[chairman]

This system of catching 9M diameter booster rockets coming down from the sky will be a complete and utter disaster.

[chrischeshire]

That's a great explanation about the JWST mirrors. Lessons learned from Hubble.

[lithicyde]

Thanks for the video Felix, excellent as ever.

[RussW_Comments]

Great video. Love the comparison with the barge landing area.

[dmwalker]

That's certainly a design they've got there... Well, I look forward to seeing the fireworks show.

[MarioHernandez-ewce]

Hi Felix, I was thinking, maybe there will be not only booster course corrections, but also chopsticks position corrections at the same time in order to make sure the succesful landing. Seems perfectly logical, don´t you think? Congrats for the good work!!!