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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

#31

Post by russdill »

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…

Lots of rocket components look like gears. The outside skin of the rocket often had internal vertical stringers and so components need cutouts that end up looking a bit like gears

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

#33

Post by jamieplex »

russdill wrote: post #31
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…

Lots of rocket components look like gears. The outside skin of the rocket often had internal vertical stringers and so components need cutouts that end up looking a bit like gears

true, but I guess I have never heard of an 8' diameter rocket before...

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

#36

Post by buildsjets »

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…

For reference, here is a ring which is believed to have come from China's Long March BuNo Y77. Note the similar scale, and similar discoloration. https://spacenews.com/india-examining-crashed-space-debris-s...

I design and build all sorts of hardware relating to air-breathing (jet) propulsion, including gears. I agree with mkl. Those are not gear teeth. They have flat flanks, and no involute profile. No one makes gears with a gigantic U shaped root. They appear to me to most likely be clearance slots, to go around protruding bolt heads on a mating part. I have designed similar counterbore features myself.

What makes you claim that this part is steel? The article does not say that. Is that a fact, or are you guessing?

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

#37

Post by ivewonyoung »

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…

Maybe it was something like this?

https://old.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/comments/1bmpxaq/t...

The diameter seems to match.

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

#38

Post by ivewonyoung »

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.

Could be from something like this:

https://old.reddit.com/r/nextfuckinglevel/comments/1bmpxaq/t...

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

#39

Post by buildsjets »

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.

Do you have a theory on where the rest of the airplane went?
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