this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2026
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That's the Launch Escape System (LES). It's a rocket motor that can activate to separate the crew capsule from the rest of the rocket in the event of a bad launch.
Ahh, gotcha. I assume it separates before the final stage booster ignites?
I believe (though I'm not an expert on the system) that it separates during the second stage when it's no longer needed.
Yes, it gets jettisoned after the separation of the first stage and ignition of the second stage.