Launch Star

"I'm going to transform into a red. Come over and fly!"

- Luma

A Launch Star is an object that launches Mario or Luigi to different planets in outer space, introduced in Super Mario Galaxy. Launch Stars are large (usually orange) stars that hover just above the ground of a planet, though occasionally they can also appear floating in the air above a planet, or just floating in space.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, the first time Mario uses a Launch Star, the path of the Launch Star is originally invisible, but it is traced out in space as Mario is flying to the next planet. However, if Mario later returns to a Launch Star that he has already used to travel to another planet, the path will be visible before he uses it.

Launch Stars can be activated only by shaking the Wii Remote and causing Mario to spin when he is either in or next to a Launch Star, though any Launch Stars in the level visibly spin when the Wii Remote is shaken, regardless of whether or not he is necessarily close to one. When activated, a Launch Star catapults Mario to another planet or set of planets. When Mario stands directly under a Launch Star, the gravity of it pulls him into the center of it automatically. If the player does not shake the Wii Remote after a few seconds, the Launch Star will release Mario and he will touch down on the ground again.

Launch Stars are not always readily available for Mario to use. In some cases, Mario must complete a certain task or objective before the Launch Star appears, such as collecting five yellow Star Chips, eliminating all the enemies on a particular planet, or freeing a yellow Luma or the Launch Star itself from a crystal or a cage. In addition, yellow Lumas are also able to transform into Launch Stars independently, though this is more common in the game's sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2 (the player usually has to free the Luma from a cage before it transforms into a Launch Star, though this is not always the case). It is revealed in this game that these Lumas still retain the ability to talk to Mario while in Launch Star form.

Launch Stars often let Mario fly through space for a short time before landing on another planet, unlike their smaller related items, Sling Stars, which often fling Mario directly to another planet, with very little space in between. While flying through space, Mario occasionally hits a floating Star Piece Cluster that has been placed directly in the path of the Launch Star, and it often releases multiple Star Bits that float around Mario until he lands on the planet. Mario can collect these Star Bits when the player touches them with the Star Cursor.

After Mario feeds a Hungry Luma, it transforms into a new planet or galaxy and leaves behind a pink Launch Star leading to that planet. The only Hungry Luma that does not leave behind a Launch Star after being fed is the one that transforms into the Hurry-Scurry Planet in the Sea Slide Galaxy (Mario must use a cannon to reach the planet instead).

There is also a green Launch Star located onboard the Comet Observatory that takes Mario to the Planet of Trials when activated. This one, as well as the Launch Stars on the Planet of Trials, is the only green Launch Star in the entire game.

Though usually immovable, a Launch Star always stays (or appears after the player collects five Star Chips) in its permanent location. However, one Launch Star can actually be moved upwards and downwards regardless of where it sends the player. In the mission Sunbaked Sand Castle in the Dusty Dune Galaxy, the player must go to the second planet and collect five Star Chips to make the Launch Star appear on top of the tower. Since the player can make the tower rise or sink by pressing a Ground Pound Switch, the Launch Star can also rise or sink along with the tower, but it does not sink into the sand.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, Launch Stars function the same as in Super Mario Galaxy. The path of each Launch Star that Mario uses appears before he uses it for the first time, as well as each time he uses it following the first time. One exception to this is in the Grandmaster Galaxy, where no path is projected.

Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii, a single large Launch Star appears in Rainbow Road, where it acts as a cannon and shoots racers into a rainbow tunnel and through another large Launch Star at the end (the second Launch Star does not launch racers). The design of the railings of this course also has multiple Launch Stars on it.

Although Launch Stars do not appear in future Mario Kart games, the Star Rings on various Rainbow Roads resemble Launch Stars. The Launch Star pattern on the railings of Mario Kart Wii's Rainbow Road returns in the course's reappearance in Mario Kart Tour; however, the Launch Star that leads to the cannon does not, and it is now a ring that merely resembles one.

Mario Tennis Open
Launch Stars make an appearance in the Special Game called Galaxy Rally in Mario Tennis Open. When the player completes the meter by collecting Star Chips, then the Launch Star is completed. For every consecutive hit by the ball, the Launch Star gives the player five more coins. The Launch Star's meter depletes after a certain amount of time. Once the meter reaches zero, the Launch Star disappears, and Star Chips reappear.

Mario Tennis Aces
Launch Stars appear during Luma's Special Shot animation in Mario Tennis Aces. Three Lumas of different colors appear around the playable Luma and transform into Launch Stars, shooting him from one to another to help him hit the ball with a powerful strike.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
While Launch Stars themselves do not appear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Rosalina executes a move in a similar manner to a Launch Star for her up special move, in which she propels herself from a pair of rainbow stars, even producing a similar sound effect.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In addition to serving as the basis of Rosalina's up special, the Launch Star from the Super Mario Galaxy games appears as an item in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, under the name Super Launch Star. It can be deployed similarly to a Bumper by picking it up and throwing it, and points horizontally if it is thrown to the left or right, or vertically if it is thrown upwards or downwards. After it is deployed, any fighter who runs into it is automatically launched in the opposite direction it was thrown.

Trivia

 * The green Launch Star located on the Comet Observatory in Super Mario Galaxy is the only Launch Star between the two games that is actually inaccessible the first time it is encountered. It can be restored only after Mario has collected all three Green Stars hidden throughout the game.
 * When a Launch Star spins, it does not rotate perfectly on its axis, but it rather appears to wobble back and forth slightly while spinning around.
 * The Launch Star sound, when launched, synchronizes with the current music. This technique is used with a MIDI data inside the music file.