ICBM - "separation" shortly after launch?

[Supersheep]

Another curiosity, at 52:52 min (link is timestamped):

What is the thing at the top of the missile that is blown away, and why does it need to be discarded? It looks like the vehicle gets a good kick out of it, and makes attitude control more complicated. Plus, it wastes some nice thrust.

 

(Sorry, I cannot identify the missile type although I see how that would be helpful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJxN_2sXuHA&t=52m52s

[Milli]

As a guess, I'd say it is some sort of casing that is expended after getting the missile out of the water and into the air. Not that I really know much about these things. But it looks like a sea launch missile.

[WildBillKelsoe]

the rubber? :D

[Supersheep]

I am also thinking about some sort of fairing, but had assumed that it'd be better blown off after max areodynamic pressure had been reached to protect whatever is under it. Which leads to the question as to why it's blown off in the first place, since it'll be exposed to aero-pressure again later in the flight. My thinking does not seem to plausible to me, maybe we'll get more ideas.

 

BTW I think that it's a land-based, silo launched vehicle. In the first few frames of the scene, the horizon appears to be "land-ly".

[Feuerfalke]

Probably the same as in the launches before that: The first missile-stage.

 

You can see that in the other launches before your mark. Just the first stage seems to be blown to pieces for most of the missiles, rather than pushed away.

I asume that this is implemented as a safety measure for ship-based or other mobile launches. The explosion and falling parts could cause damage to the launching sub or vehicle below.

[Supersheep]

Could it be that we mean different things with the term 'first stage'?

I don't understand this idea, to be honest. The first stage is the big rocket engine that is continuously burning, and continues its ascend. The other part is something that does not produce thrust before being jettisoned, as it originates from the top of the missile. The smaller motor quickly fizzles out. If the first stage was dumped, wouldn't there need to be another rocket booster?

 

Anyways, thanks for all the input!