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NASA's Planet Hunter, TESS, on its way to orbit.


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When the S1/S2 separation occurs, within a couple of seconds the cold gas (pressurized nitrogen) RCS fires up to rotate the booster ~180°, orienting the engines into the direction of travel for the boostback burn.  On exceptionally clear days you can see the nitrogen plume (it's quite extensive and fleeting as it warms up in the sunlight) from the RCS.  While there could be a nitrogen gas contamination issue because of the proximity of the separated vehicles, I wonder if that is the case because the payload is still in its fairing and environmentally isolated.

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