When a tribute dies, why does the hovercraft take the body away, and why does a cannon go off and why does the sky show the tributes and their deaths? Why???

They hovercrafts collect the dead tributes because they don't want the other tributes to eat them (no one likes canabals). The cannon goes off so that the audience and the other tributes know that someone died. Again, they want the tributes and audience to know who died, so they project the dead tributes' faces and districts in the sky at night.

Cannons are set to go off when a tribute has been killed or has died.

OK, so the hovercraft takes the tributes dead body, so canabolism does not occur but also to take the DNA of the tribute to transfer to a mutt AND to clean the body of blood and stuff in it in a box and ship back to their family.

They show the pictures of the fallen so everyone who is betting knows who's dead and who isn't, the same applies with the tributes so they know who's left and who is dead.

Cannon goes off to signal that a tribute has died, it's useful as tributes can keep track of the deaths and lower down the amount of dead people they need to survive.

When a tribute dies, why does the hovercraft take the body away, and why does a cannon go off and why does the sky show the tributes and their deaths

The Capitol, is the primary ruling entity in the world of the Hunger Games. The Capitol, in contrast to other regimes seeks to remind the people that they, the Capitol are in charge and the lives of the people do not hold much meaning to them. The primary objective of conducting the Hunger Games is just 'muscle flexing' by the Capitol along with enforcing their iron grip on the country as the method in which dissent is removed (by making young men and women fight each other to death) is to send a message that rebellion and revolt against the Capitol will not work.

A parallel can be made with Oceania in 1984 wherein O'Brien informs Winston Smith that the objective of the Government (Big Brother) is not to create a utopia, but to create a world where there will be more pain, more fear and more oppression. They want to remove all dissenting thought against Big Brother and reserve happiness and laughter to the death and destruction of the enemy. O'Brien criticised the Communist and Fascist regimes of the past stating that they were not true to their ideology and did not dare to go the full way.

The action of taking the body away by the Hovercraft, denies the families of the tributes the opportunity to mourn them and give them a proper funeral. The sound of the cannon signifies the inevitable conclusion of the fight as one is expected to die in the Hunger Games and by sounding the blast, sends the message to the people and the families of the tributes about the deaths of their significant ones, adding in the salt as if it were into their wounds as they cannot even get an opportunity to properly mourn their dead as not even death can end the oppressive regime of the Capitol. The act of display of the names and deaths of the Tributes in the Sky is a formality, which shows to the people, how the game is going and betrays the true nature of the Capitol to the people.

In the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, the events you described occur during the Games themselves as part of the Capitol's orchestrated spectacle. Here's an explanation for each element:

1. Hovercraft taking away the body: When a tribute dies in the Hunger Games, a hovercraft, which is a futuristic aircraft, retrieves the body. This serves as a reminder of the Capitol's control over the Games and highlights the fact that the tributes' lives are ultimately in their hands.

2. Cannon going off: After a tribute's death, a cannon is fired to notify all the remaining tributes and spectators that a death has occurred. This auditory cue adds a sense of finality and marks the passing of a tribute.

3. Sky showing the tributes and their deaths: Following a tribute's death, the sky above the arena displays a projection of their face along with their district number. This is a way for the Capitol to pay tribute to the fallen participants and remind the remaining tributes of the risks they face.

Jill described it best.

This haunting ritual in The Hunger Games—the cannon blast, the hovercraft retrieval, the sky’s projection—serves multiple purposes, each steeped in control, spectacle, and psychological warfare.

1. The Cannon: Declaration of Death
The cannon fire is an unmistakable signal: someone has died. It echoes through the arena to alert both tributes and spectators. For tributes, it’s a moment of tension, as they wait to see who it was—an ally, an enemy, or perhaps the person they were just fighting. For the Capitol and its audience, it’s an auditory cue to ramp up excitement and emotional engagement.

2. The Hovercraft: Reclaiming the Evidence
The Capitol retrieves the fallen body to prevent tributes from taking anything from it—weapons, supplies, or even using it for cover or psychological manipulation. It also reinforces the idea that every aspect of the Games belongs to the Capitol, including life and death. Removing the bodies sanitizes the arena while giving the Capitol the chance to manipulate what happens next—whether it’s a stylized tribute, propaganda spin, or medical examination.

3. The Sky Projection: The Narrative, On Repeat
Every night, the sky transforms into a grim scoreboard. Faces of the fallen are displayed with pomp and finality, offering both closure and dread. For tributes, it’s confirmation. For the Capitol, it’s performance—an edited montage to evoke loyalty, fear, or even sorrow, all depending on how they want the audience to feel. It’s another reminder: the Capitol controls the story, and everyone is watching.

Taken together, these elements aren’t just game mechanics—they’re strategic tools of oppression. They make death unforgettable and inescapable, ensuring that both participants and districts alike are kept submissive through fear and spectacle.