‘Banana For Scale’ Sticker Was Noticed On the Starship Flight 6 Rocket – Here’s Why

SpaceX’s latest Starship prototype has everyone talking – not just about its ambitious test flight, but about an unexpected guest: a cartoon banana! As the towering 165-foot rocket rolled out at Starbase, fans quickly spotted the ‘Banana For Scale’ joke, adding a playful twist to the serious business of space exploration.

It’s a wink to the “banana for scale” meme beloved by engineers, and a reminder that even in aerospace, there’s room for a little fun. Let us explain.

Going Bananas for Space

On 13 November, SpaceX rolled out the upper stage of Starship to the launch pad at its Starbase facility in South Texas. While the stainless steel behemoth is impressive on its own, it’s the colorful artwork adorning its side that has space enthusiasts buzzing.

A pixelated, smiling cartoon banana clutching a realistic banana has made its debut on the rocket’s exterior. This whimsical addition is more than just a random doodle – it’s a cheeky nod to the aerospace industry’s favorite unit of measurement.

What Does Banana for Scale It Mean?

The banana artwork is a playful reference to the “banana for scale” meme popular among engineers and space enthusiasts. This inside joke involves placing a banana in photos to provide a sense of scale for objects. While it may appear to be a small object on Starship, it’s actually the size of a human.

Even United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno has been known to use the fruity metric in his posts. Now, SpaceX has taken the joke to new heights – quite literally!

The sixth Starship test flight, scheduled for 18 th November, aims to build on the successes of previous launches. SpaceX will attempt to catch the massive Super Heavy booster as it returns to Earth and perform new maneuvers with the Starship upper stage.

Whether this cosmic banana will bring good luck to the mission remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain – SpaceX has ensured this launch will be anything but boring.