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TOWER CATCH
Super Heavy Booster Catch
Dimensions
Grid fins: ~2 m x 2 m each (4 total)
Material
Steel grid fins, load-bearing hardpoints
First Use
Oct 13, 2024
Usage Statistics
2
Successful Uses
100%
Success Rate
How It Works
Super Heavy performs boostback, entry, and landing burns using 13 Raptor engines, then approaches the tower at near-zero velocity. Tower-mounted mechanical arms close around designated catch hardpoints below the grid fins, arresting all remaining motion.
Key Specifications
Landing burn engines13 Raptor
Catch interfaceGrid fin hardpoints
First catchIFT-5, October 2024
Booster dry mass~200,000 kg
Compatible Vehicles
Super Heavy booster
Details
The Super Heavy booster catch system relies on the Mechazilla tower arms to catch the returning booster by its grid fin hardpoints, eliminating landing legs entirely. The booster performs a boostback burn, entry burn, and landing burn sequence similar to Falcon 9, then hovers into the tower arms at near-zero velocity. This approach maximizes payload capacity by saving landing leg mass.
External Links
