By observing the starry sky on Tuesday evening, some Quebecers noticed a strange halo of light a little before 11 p.m. It is not a UFO, but a rocket floor.
The floor having detached proceeded to an ignition of its reactor, which gave rise to the light show described as ” amazing » by the Astrolab of the International Reserve of Mont-Mégantic.
The activation of the engine of one of the two rockets was of course planned. The process is part of the process of repatriating on earth the module used.
Actually, ” The floor empties of its fuel on both sides, which turns it on itself. This is what creates this spiral effect that we see in most photos “Explains Olivier Hernandez, astrophysicist and director of the Montreal planetarium.
« Most modules like that observed do this before reintegrating the atmosphere, falling and being recovered, but they are not necessarily reusable, it is not all the rockets that can be caught like those of SpaceX “Adds the astrophysicist.
An American or European rocket
What rocket came from the floor in question? Nothing confirmed, but it would be in all likelihood either of the heavy European rocket baptized Ariane-62, or a Vulcan type launcher who left 11 minutes later from Cap Canaveral in the United States. “” The trajectory of the two objects is similar, I know that we are talking about the European module, but it could just as well be the vulcan “, Specifies Olivier Hernandez.
The maneuver was observed across the province and several people have speculated as to the nature of the phenomenon. Several photos and videos circulated on social networks thereafter, including it, taken on Île-Perrot.
Gracious Alain Gingras.
The Mission de la Ariane-62
When a rocket is launched like that, it’s never for nothing. Ariane-62 took off from a space center in Kourou in French Guyana and aimed to propel a European satellite Metop-SGA1 in orbit.
The satellite will make ultra -appreciated weather forecast. According to the European organization for the exploitation of meteorological satellites, the Metop-SGA1 ” marks a major advance for the provision of specific forecasts and early alerts aimed at protecting people and goods from extreme meteorological phenomenas ».
A first mission for the Space Force
If Europeans are launching a meteorological satellite of new generations, the Americans have put two experimental military satellites of the US Space Force in orbit. It is United Launch Alliance (ULA) which is behind the takeoff of the first Vulcan rocket. This replaces the Atlas 5 and Delta type rockets increasingly obsolete.
By flying over the Atlantic Ocean, the vulcan’s exhaust jet would also have offered a whole light show since it was possible to see its streak shine for several kilometers.
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