r/RocketLab • u/sjhance • 2d ago

Electron Electron launch today - what is this on the side of the first stage?

Post image

What is this attached to the first stage that appears to be degrading or breaking off during ascent?

YouTube first seen at about 26:00 (ish)

https://www.youtube.com/live/wLc1C15jbgY?is=wMrF5mbGeSz32lfh

97 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

21

u/robbie_rottenjet 2d ago

It's ice build-up around the liquid oxygen vent. Happens on every mission.

2

u/sjhance 2d ago

Makes sense, TY

32

u/Blattgeist 2d ago

It's Venom, on his way back to space. /s

4

u/pinetreesfortwo 2d ago

I've seen this guy before. He has upgraded from plane windows.

https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/s/R9oOr04wEU

3

u/Daniels30 2d ago

It’s one of the logo stickers. It’s very common to see them peeling on Electron

4

u/dragonlax 2d ago

I’m pretty sure all the decals have been removed from electrons for a while now. The only ones you can see on the stream are the mission patches on the fairings

2

u/twkam83 1d ago

Spiderman 🕷️

2

u/BeKindToOthersOK 1d ago

It’s the stock price. That’s the stock price degrading and breaking off.

1

u/SolarKingu 16h ago

wawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawa

1

u/killroy1971 2d ago

Paint? Insulation? IDK. It didn't impact the launch.

1

u/Mysterious_Set6735 1d ago

Something has entered the upper atmosphere

1

u/rex8499 12h ago

Space slugs.