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@OrganicMarble's answer shows some very cool looking historical rocket launches.

What is the smaller structure attached to the booster on the right side, that looks like a "baby rocket"?

enter image description here

uhoh
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  • @OrganicMarble I see. I've voted to close as well, thanks! – uhoh Aug 03 '18 at 01:40
  • @OrganicMarble is this similar to some of the things shown here? https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/20755/how-does-a-single-srb-control-attitude/20763#20763 oh, I mean in this answer: https://space.stackexchange.com/a/20763/12102 – uhoh Aug 03 '18 at 01:44
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    It is indeed, and I mentioned it in my answer to that duplicate question. – Organic Marble Aug 03 '18 at 01:45

1 Answers1

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Those are the tanks for the "fluid thrust vector control" (TVC) system. There's one on each booster.

enter image description here

(from NASA SX-79) TVC would inject NO4 fluid at different points around the circumference of the nozzle to deflect the flow, which changed the thrust direction enough that a gimbeled nozzle wasn't needed.

Bob Jacobsen
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