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Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

nation.africa

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Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#11

Post by philipwhiuk »

jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

I thought it might be an jet-engine cowl, but I don't know enough about planes.

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#12

Post by buildbot »

jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

The rust does stand out as kind odd, not many aerospace materials rust???

How fast would you have to spin a gear ring to say, launch it on a ballistic trajectory and have it go supersonic? Maybe a factory somewhere had a _really_ catastrophic accident?

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#13

Post by jamieplex »

philipwhiuk wrote: post #11
jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

I thought it might be an jet-engine cowl, but I don't know enough about planes.

Cowlings are generally thin aluminum or composite materials, never steel. Cowlings are considered "fairings", generally to smooth the air-stream in and around the engine.

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#14

Post by jamieplex »

buildbot wrote: post #12
jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

The rust does stand out as kind odd, not many aerospace materials rust??? How fast would you have to spin a gear ring to say, launch it on a ballistic trajectory and have it go supersonic? Maybe a factory somewhere had a _really_ catastrophic accident?

Maybe that was the "rumbling" they all heard! lol

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#15

Post by jamieplex »

philipwhiuk wrote: post #9
sebmellen wrote: post #8

Do we have any idea which rocket this came from?

I asked Johnathan McDowell, who tracks space objects alongside his main job working on Chandra. He's much less convinced it's from a rocket. https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3leq2wb... There's not any great candidates.

I agree with Jonathan. It seems to be a very low-tech, solid steel ring gear assembled and riveted together from 4 distinct parts. Not very aero-spacey at all...

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#16

Post by cjbgkagh »

jamieplex wrote: post #15
philipwhiuk wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I asked Johnathan McDowell, who tracks space objects alongside his main job working on Chandra. He's much less convinced it's from a rocket. https://bsky.app/profile/planet4589.bsky.social/post/3leq2wb... There's not any great candidates.

I agree with Jonathan. It seems to be a very low-tech, solid steel ring gear assembled and riveted together from 4 distinct parts. Not very aero-spacey at all...

What other industries use rivets? Wouldn’t most non-aerospace use welds?

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#18

Post by rectang »

jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

Could be from a concrete mixer. (Credit: rando YouTube comment.)

Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket

#20

Post by throwaway519 »

rectang wrote: post #18
jamieplex wrote: post #10

Approximately 8' diameter (other commenters pointed out a more reasonable size) solid steel ring gear (riveted together from 4 parts). Doesn't look anything like a "separation ring", and certainly isn't large enough. Plus it is solid steel. I am kinda doubting the whole story at this point. No way it is from a rocket (too heavy, too low-tech, no ring gears in rocketry), and doubtful from any commercial aircraft (agai…

Could be from a concrete mixer. (Credit: rando YouTube comment.)

Bearings are single cast.
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