Rocket fairing drag refers to the aerodynamic resistance encountered by the fairing of a rocket as it travels through the atmosphere during ascent. The fairing is a protective shell or covering that encapsulates the payload, such as satellites or other cargo, atop the rocket. Its primary function is to shield the payload from aerodynamic forces, heating, and other environmental factors during the initial phase of the launch.
Where:
- is the drag force,
- is the drag coefficient,
- is the reference area (cross-sectional area of the fairing),
- is the density of the air, and
- is the velocity of the rocket.