Aliases
Disambiguation
MECO is a universal aerospace/spaceflight acronym. No disambiguation needed; consistently refers to Main Engine Cutoff across all sources.
Stats
Concept
Main Engine Cutoff: the commanded shutdown of a launch vehicle's first-stage main engines when predetermined conditions (altitude, velocity, fuel state) are met, marking the end of powered flight and enabling transition to coasting phase.
Main Engine Cutoff: o desligamento comandado dos motores principais do primeiro estágio de um veículo de lançamento quando as condições predeterminadas (altitude, velocidade, estado do combustível) são atingidas, marcando o fim da fase de voo propulsionado e permitindo a transição para a fase de coast.
Enrichment
- MECOWikipedia▎ high· 2026-05-14
- MECO = Main engine cutoff (shutdown of first stage in multistage rocket)
- Critical event in rocket launch sequence
- Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) - Definition & Detailed Explanation - Rocketry & Propulsion GlossarySentinel Mission▎ high· 2026-05-14
- MECO is commanded shutdown of main engines when predetermined altitude/velocity/fuel criteria met
- Marks transition from powered flight to coasting phase
- Essential for fuel conservation and mission success
- Used across all rocket programs (Space Shuttle, Falcon 9, SLS, etc.)
- Distinct from second-stage engine cutoff (SECO)
MECO
Description (EN)
Stub generated by entity dedup. Will be enriched in Phase 6.
Descrição (PT-BR)
Stub gerado pela deduplicação de entidades. Será enriquecido na Fase 6.
<!-- enrichment:start -->Enrichment (EN)
Disambiguation: MECO is a universal aerospace/spaceflight acronym. No disambiguation needed; consistently refers to Main Engine Cutoff across all sources.
MECO (Main Engine Cutoff) is a critical aerospace and spaceflight term referring to the commanded shutdown of a launch vehicle's first-stage main engines during powered ascent. The event occurs automatically when the rocket's onboard computer detects that predetermined conditions have been met—typically a specific altitude, velocity, or fuel state. MECO marks the transition from powered flight to coasting phase and is essential for fuel conservation and mission success across all rocket programs, including the Space Shuttle, SpaceX Falcon 9, and NASA's Space Launch System. The term is standard military and civilian spaceflight vocabulary documented in operational procedures and technical references.
Enriquecimento (PT-BR)
Desambiguação: MECO is a universal aerospace/spaceflight acronym. No disambiguation needed; consistently refers to Main Engine Cutoff across all sources.
MECO (Main Engine Cutoff) é um termo crítico em aeroespacial e voo espacial que se refere ao desligamento comandado dos motores principais do primeiro estágio de um veículo de lançamento durante a ascensão propulsionada. O evento ocorre automaticamente quando o computador de bordo do foguete detecta que as condições predeterminadas foram atingidas—tipicamente uma altitude específica, velocidade ou estado de combustível. MECO marca a transição da fase de voo propulsionado para a fase de coast (voo livre) e é essencial para a conservação de combustível e sucesso da missão em todos os programas de foguete, incluindo o Space Shuttle, SpaceX Falcon 9 e o Space Launch System da NASA. O termo é vocabulário padrão em procedimentos operacionais militares e civis de voo espacial.
External Sources
- MECO · Wikipedia · reliability:
high— MECO = Main engine cutoff (shutdown of first stage in multistage rocket); Critical event in rocket launch sequence - Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) - Definition & Detailed Explanation - Rocketry & Propulsion Glossary · Sentinel Mission · reliability:
high— MECO is commanded shutdown of main engines when predetermined altitude/velocity/fuel criteria met; Marks transition from powered flight to coasting phase; Essential for fuel conservation and mission success; Used across all rocket programs (Space Shuttle, Falcon 9, SLS, etc.); Distinct from second-stage engine cutoff (SECO)