Strange object photographed during rocket launch

Perhaps a chase aircraft? NASA used to put up chase planes during a launch. I don’t know about anyone these days.

a reply to: AnAlternateOpinion

Payload fairing jettison ...??

The payload is enclosed in a fiberglass shroud to protect it on passage through the atmosphere

Once the booster has left the lower atmosphere it is jettisoned to save weight The payload fairing is recovered from the
ocean to be refurbished and reused

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.

I am onboard with the payload fairing/shroud theory but what I don't know is how far or how many minutes into the flight this event takes place? If indeed that's what the mystery spot is, what a stroke of luck to capture it that far away and at just the right moment.

I did find that rockets launched from Vandenberg can fly nearly due south and not cross over land until they reach Antarctica so it would still have been over the ocean when I snapped the photo.

Upon further research, I am now certain what I captured was one of the payload fairing halves as it seems to the right shape and that it was just a trick of perspective that it appeared ahead of the rocket plume.


Cool!

a reply to: AnAlternateOpinion

Thanks!

originally posted by: rickymouse
Don't have a clue what that thing is. It kind of looks like a snowman falling from the sky. Actually, maybe the head of a white dog.

I was thinking it looked like the Chicago Bulls logo on a bit of an angle

I think it was a lone patch of cloud traveling in the background.

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