How far from the launch site do spent stages land?

[SceToAux12]

Hi, I am trying to find information on how far from the launch site spent stages typically land. I know rocket stages launched from the US typically land in the ocean, but how far from the launch site? Information on how far the space shuttle srbs went would be extra nice, but im also interested in where for example Atlas V or Delta IV stages land. SpaceX is of course a different story. Thanks in advance for replying.

[hkultala]

It depends very greatly on how high and fast the staging occurs.

So it depends on both the rocket and the trajectory where the payload is going (smaller payload to higher energy trajectory means staging at higher speed and altitude)

SRBs which have quite low isp and burn for a very short time always fly very short distance, probably less than 200km.

But stages that stage late, such as the center stage of Delta IV Heavy, or core stage of some Atlas V 551 typically fly well over 1000 kilometer, maybe even couple of thousand kilometers.

And the Shuttle external tank flew almost halfway around the earth.

[smoliarm]

From NASA Shuttle Reference,
https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/stsover-landing.html#stsover-srbretreiv

SRB separation occurs at an altitude of about 30 miles
The separated boosters then coast up to an altitude of 47 miles
and free-fall into an impact zone in the ocean about 158 miles downrange.
The so-called splash "footprint" is in an area about 7 miles wide and about 10 miles long.

Hope this helps

[libra]

In the case of Baikonur, the Altai region had the bad luck of being downrange and thus it was peppered with spent Proton stages and toxic storables.

Russianspaceweb has a very detailed page about downrange Baikonur, spent stages, and drop zones.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_downrange.html

[NashSue]

In the case of Baikonur, the Altai region had the bad luck of being downrange and thus it was peppered with spent Proton stages and toxic storables.

Russianspaceweb has a very detailed page about downrange Baikonur, spent stages, and drop zones.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_downrange.html

Thank you for the link. I didn't know about this! O.о