Discussion Unidentified object found on the Australian shore (likely rocket stage remains)

N_Molson

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FtSYApbBKvJXv9pCC7PcaV-970-80.jpg.webp


Looks very much like a rocket stage (upper stage ?) to me, like a tank bulkhead. Now identifying the launcher is the funny part. They say '2.5 meters diameter'. Is there something that fits in the Chinese inventory ? Their southern launch corridor goes in the general direction of Australia. Could be from Vostochny too maybe ? Or the second stage of that one, the diameter seem to match : https://www.38north.org/2012/04/nhansenfp041112/ ?

Edit : ah, just saw this from the chat log :

Thunder Chicken: @garyw Could be a GSLV booster hypergolic tank. It's about the right size.
Yesterday at 5:07 PM

Could definitively be from India.
 

jedidia

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If it's a hypergolic tank, would all the toxicity have been burnt out of it during reentry, or would the thing still be a chemical hazard?
 

N_Molson

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If it's a hypergolic tank, would all the toxicity have been burnt out of it during reentry, or would the thing still be a chemical hazard?

I think the danger is real, and Australia reacted well taking it seriously. This stuff is so toxic, it only takes a few drops that would have been trapped in a pipe or something alike. You absolutely don't want children playing on the beach to explore the inside of it.
 

MaxBuzz

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I think the danger is real, and Australia reacted well taking it seriously. This stuff is so toxic, it only takes a few drops that would have been trapped in a pipe or something alike. You absolutely don't want children playing on the beach to explore the inside of it.
it is surprising that it did not burn out in the atmosphere, all chemical compounds burned out

only an Soyuz with the upper stage fregate and PSLV can launch satellites into polar orbit they have done more to study the climate than anyone else
 
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N_Molson

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The Atlas V and Falcon 9 also did that recently...

But yes, the stage on the photo perfectly matches the one on the 3D animation.
 
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