Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs
by orbital-decay on Monday July 31, 2023 @03:46PM
(#36947804)
The tank in the photo looks like the second stage pressurization tank. If that's the case (I could be wrong), it carries helium.
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Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs
by elteto on Monday July 31, 2023 @08:51PM
(#36950961)
I don't think it's a helium tank. A high pressure tank (helium or otherwise) in a rocket is normally a COPV [0]. Those are welded, don't have rivets/bolts, and are wrapped in carbon fiber.
To me it looks like a regular fuel or oxidizer tank.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_overwrapped_pressure...
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs
by Turskarama on Tuesday August 01, 2023 @12:32AM
(#36952326)
The pictures of the vessel when close up DO look like it's overwrapped, the rivets around the outside look like theyre from the structure which held the tank rather than the tank itself.
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs
by elteto on Tuesday August 01, 2023 @01:08AM
(#36952549)
You typically see COPVs attached from the top and bottom with linkages. And a regular tank can be overwrapped in a composite as well.
The top looks like a regular tank dome to me, maybe a common dome.