What is this flying debris during Ariane 5 liftoff

Question

Trigger warning: jaw-dropping picture

Source: (Warning, more pictures) Ars Technica Credits: ESA/Trevor Mahlmann Launch: VA250

That is indeed a fine picture. – Organic Marble Dec 04 '19 at 00:51 — Organic Marble, Dec 04 '19 at 00:51

gwally · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-03T03:05:45.333

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That is a cover plate at the top of the Etage d'Acceleration à Poudre (EAP) – solid rocket booster at the nose cone that at the time of launch comes off exposing the separation rockets.

Video of Covers coming off

This slow motion video of the Ariane V launch shows the plates coming off a few seconds after ignition. In the video, they fall away at 41 second mark.

More information:

edited Dec 03 '19 at 03:05

answered Dec 03 '19 at 02:44

gwally

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What does EAP stand for? – Organic Marble Dec 03 '19 at 02:57
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It's "Etage d'Acceleration à Poudre", French for Solid Rocket Booster. I added that to my answer. I could not figure out what it meant and had to search further. – gwally Dec 03 '19 at 03:03
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Thanks, this and your edit makes it much clearer, +1 – Organic Marble Dec 03 '19 at 03:04
What is their purpose ? – Antzi Dec 03 '19 at 04:15
@OrganicMarble FYI, https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/36248/why-strap-on-boosters-and-how-do-other-people-say-it/36251 – Antzi Dec 03 '19 at 04:32
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Their purpose is to prevent frost forming on the front attachment points. They're blocks of insulation foam. – Hobbes Dec 03 '19 at 08:43

What is this flying debris during Ariane 5 liftoff

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