How much do you know about rocket fairings? (1) Function: protect satellites and other payloads; sources of hazards: aerodynamic force, aerodynamic heating, and acoustic vibration. (2) Shape: clam shell-like (two halves) structure, divided into end head, front cone section, cylindrical section, inverted cone section, longitudinal and transverse separation mechanisms. (3) Classification: ① single star cover, double star cover, multiple star cover; ② cone-cylindrical shape, cone-cylinder-inverted cone shape. A type of launch vehicle can have satellite fairings of various shapes, and the cost of a completely customized satellite fairing is approximately 75% higher than the cost of a standard fairing. (4) Size: 1 meter (such as 1.2 meters, 1.4 meters), 3 meters (such as 3.35 meters, 3.8 meters, 4.2 meters) and 5 meters (such as 5.2 meters). (5) Function: protect the satellite from aerodynamic force; protect the satellite from aerodynamic heating; unlock the separation system to ensure the smooth separation of the satellite fairing; when the launch vehicle is in the launch state, the temperature and humidity in the fairing can be adjusted; protect the satellite in the cover from being polluted by various smog environments; it has a certain function similar to an escape tower. (6) Features: good aerodynamic shape; light structural quality; reliable separation function; transparent to electromagnetic waves. (7) Structural classification: ① Metal riveted structure: aluminum alloy; ② Composite material structure: resin-based fiber composite material with wave transmission function. (8) Cost: Generally speaking, the cost of rocket fairing accounts for about ten percent of the entire rocket cost. Taking Falcon 9 as an example, its public quotation is US$62 million per flight, and the fairing cost is US$6 million. (9) Manufacturers: Factory 211 of the First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, Factory 703 of the First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, Factory 800 of the Eighth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology, Tianjin Aisida Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., Anhui Mengkes Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., and Chaojie Co., Ltd.
Extended reading:
Tianjin Aisida Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd.: Tianjin Aisida Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. has the domestic leading level in the research and development and design of lightweight structures such as commercial rockets, commercial satellites, drones, and high-speed rails, as well as the research and development of new materials such as composite materials. It is the only private enterprise in China that provides all-composite fairings for launch vehicles and successfully put them into orbit.




