Launch Star

A Launch Star is an item in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is a large orange star, and is used to catapult Mario to other planets. Launch Stars are not always readily available; sometimes Mario must collect Star Chips to assemble one. Five Star Chips are needed to make a Launch Star. In addition, there are times when certain objectives must be completed on the current planet before the Launch Star will appear, such as eliminating all enemies on the planet, or freeing a Yellow Luma. Yellow Lumas are able to transform into Launch Stars (more commonly in Super Mario Galaxy 2) and it is revealed in said game that they are able to talk in Launch Star form.

Launch Stars often let Mario fly through space before landing on another planet, unlike their smaller sister items, Sling Stars. During the flights through space, Mario can grab floating Star Bits by using the Star Cursor to grab them.

If Mario returns to a Launch Star he has already used to travel to another planet, the path is traced out into space. But in Super Mario Galaxy 2, the paths were already traced out, before the plumber even used them for the first time.

After feeding a Hungry Luma, it will create a new planet or galaxy and leave behind a pink Launch Star. There are also green Launch Stars that take Mario to the Trial Galaxies. The only Hungry Luma that will not leave behind a Launch Star after feeding it with Star Bits is "Hurry, He's Hungry" in Sea Slide Galaxy.

In Mario Kart Wii's Rainbow Road, one large Launch Star appears as a cannon. The railing of the same course also has Launch Stars on them.