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I think they do also have a radar for distance to pad information but I couldn't cite that. I believe they have a form of instrument landing system, similar to

by bdamm 7y ago

I think they do also have a radar for distance to pad information but I couldn't cite that. I believe they have a form of instrument landing system, similar to how it is done at major airports but oriented for the rocket of course, and the distance calculating "radar" could be part of that (using signal timing) but I am not sure exactly how they did it.

cryptoz 7y ago
Yes I think that radar idea is quite correct. I now recall Elon/SpaceX explaining that this rocket (BFR or whatever) should be able to land on any solid body in the solar system. This would eliminate barometers and GPS for long-term solutions, but keeping radar/lidar and other light-based imagery in the running.
jccooper 7y ago
Falcon 9 is known to have a radar altimeter; it's quite likely the Starhopper does too.