Piece of a satellite cover found on Hilton Head beach

[zzandrewst]

Found this interesting, thought others might as well:

Piece of a satellite cover found on Hilton Head beach | islandpacket.com

 

[marco916]

Where's the rest

As someone posted on the article in the comment section, what happen to the rest of the Satellite?? did they retire this Sat, was it a communication satellite for TV?

 

[Pepper]

This was not part of the satellite, but part of the enclosure containing the satellite that was mounted on top of the launch rocket. Part of that made its way back to earth without burning up. This cover would have been jettisoned before the next-stage vehicle powered up to take the satellite to its final orbit where it likely still is.

 

[classicsat]

As they call it at Ariane Space, a "Fairing". It is use for aerodynamics and to protect the satellite as it leaves Earth's atmosphere. When it has reached adequate altitde, it is jettisoned.

 

[skysurfer]

I wonder if it's the fairing from the X-37B launch - the inner part of the fairing appears similar to that of a photo of the X-37B shown partially enclosed in its payload fairing.

I know fairings might all be constructed similar so it could be any launch, not necessarily the X-37B one, unless that fairing was special compared to your typical one.

 

[zzandrewst]

I don't think they've figured out where it's from yet, here's a video I found:

UPDATE-Space Debris on Hilton Head Island may be part of European Rocket | WSAV TV