Sling Pod
A Sling Pod is a rather sloppy alternative to a Launch Star that gets Mario around in some areas of Super Mario Galaxy. Sling Pods are first seen in the pathway to Tarantox in the Space Junk Galaxy.
Sling Pods are sticky rubbery white wobbly poles with a soft spiky orb on top of them that Mario and Toads can easily get stuck in. When there are no Launch Stars or Pull Stars, there will probably be Sling Pods.
To use a Sling Pod, Mario must jump into the sticky orb on the top, get stuck in it, then with the Star Cursor, the player must grab onto the wobbly thing and hold the button down, dragging it far to the side, then letting it go. The Sling Pod will send Mario flying out of it wherever it was aiming for, then wobble a lot.
Look-a-Likes
The Sticky Planet looks almost exactly like the top of a Sling Pod, before it is shattered. (Using a Sling Pod to shatter it.)