SpaceX Weird Decision to Land Starship on Droneship by Legs for 2025 Flights! NEW Droneships Ready!

The Mechazilla arms—towering robotic mechanisms designed to catch Starship and its Super Heavy booster—are positioned as the primary landing solution. But can they keep up with SpaceX's ambitious launch schedule? Or, could drone ship landing of Starship fitted with traditional landing legs, offer a practical and reliable approach? These questions are crucial as SpaceX pushes toward full reusability and ramps up its launch pace to as many as 25 Starship missions in 2025.
One of the most transformative shifts expected in 2025 is SpaceX’s transition to full reusability. This involves catching both Starships and Super Heavy boosters with Mechazilla’s arms upon their return to Earth. This innovative approach aligns with SpaceX’s overarching mission to reduce costs and maximize efficiency, both critical components of making space travel more accessible and sustainable.
However, Mechazilla is not the only landing method under consideration. The concept of drone ship landings, which has already been proven successful with Falcon 9 rockets, remains a compelling alternative. This method has appeared in various SpaceX proposals, particularly in scenarios involving high-frequency launches from multiple locations. For instance, SpaceX envisions launching 44 Starships annually from Florida and 25 from Starbase, making it clear that relying on a single recovery system may not be sufficient.
Drone ships, which have become an integral part of Falcon 9 operations, could play a similar role in the Starship program. For launches originating from Florida, drone ships could be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean to recover both Starships and Super Heavy boosters. Similarly, for operations at Starbase, SpaceX has identified several potential drone ship zones, including the Indian Ocean (in collaboration with Australia), the mid-Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, the Northeast Pacific, and the Southeast Pacific. Additionally, the Gulf of Mexico could serve as a recovery area for Super Heavy boosters, providing yet another flexible option for SpaceX’s growing fleet.
Transitioning to drone ship landings would require substantial modifications to Starship’s current design. At present, Starship is optimized for recovery via Mechazilla’s arms, meaning it lacks landing legs—a feature that would be indispensable for stable landings on drone ships. Adding landing legs represents a significant design shift but offers undeniable advantages in terms of versatility and stability.





#starshiplaunch #starship #ift6