Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
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Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#2If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#3If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
It would have been supersonic at a very high altitude and likely came in at a steep angle, so sonic boom + large exposure area + long path.
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#4If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
Sonic boom(s). Unsure what the speed is, but could have been significantly higher than terminal velocity at sea level.
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#5If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
While it was supersonic it would have produced a sonic boom all along it's path of travel.
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#6If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
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Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#7If planes, with active propellers or jet engines, are only audible for a diameter of 20-50km around the vehicle, how could a falling unpowered ring of metal be audible from 200km away as per TFA?
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Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#8Do we have any idea which rocket this came from?
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#9Do 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.
Re: Object that fell from the skies identified as separation ring from a rocket
#10Approximately 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 (again, too low-tech and too heavy).