MECO
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Astronomy & Space
| Stands for | Main engine cutoff |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
MECO stands for Main engine cutoff, an astronomy & Space abbreviation.
Moment in a launch when a rocket stage's main engines shut down, usually just before stage separation. Launch broadcasts announce MECO as a key milestone, followed by separation and second-engine start.
Example: "MECO confirmed," the announcer said, and the booster separated two seconds later.
Usage notes
For Falcon 9, MECO comes about two and a half minutes after liftoff, after which the first stage flips to attempt a landing. The second stage's shutdown is called SECO, second engine cutoff. On the space shuttle MECO marked the end of powered ascent, about eight and a half minutes into flight.
Related abbreviations
More astronomy & Space abbreviations
- LISA – Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
- LOX – Liquid oxygen
- LSST – Legacy Survey of Space and Time
- ly – Light-year
- M – Messier object
- MACHO – Massive compact halo object
- MEO – Medium Earth orbit
- MOND – Modified Newtonian dynamics
- Mpc – Megaparsec
- NEA – Near-Earth asteroid
- NEO – Near-Earth object
- NGC – New General Catalogue