Jettisons

Jettisons, or jettisoning, is the deliberate discarding or ejecting of objects from a vehicle or vessel. The term covers both the act (verb) and the resulting discarded items (noun). It is used in maritime, aviation, spaceflight, and military contexts to reduce weight, remove hazardous material, or separate spent components. The word derives from the verb jeter, to throw.

Maritime jettison typically involves throwing cargo, ballast, or fuel overboard during distress or heavy weather to lighten the vessel and improve safety. It requires careful handling to maintain stability and is subject to flag-state and port regulations to mitigate environmental damage and navigational hazards.

In aviation, jettison usually refers to discarding fuel to reach a safe landing weight or to prevent an overlimit takeoff or landing. Modern aircraft may have dedicated fuel-jettison systems with wing- or tail-mounted nozzles. Procedures specify altitude and sometimes air traffic control clearance, and jettisoned fuel poses fire, environmental, and visibility risks.

In spaceflight and military operations, jettison covers the separation of payload fairings, spent hardware, or stores to enable mission goals or improve performance. Jettison events are planned and timed to minimize debris, comply with space-safety guidelines, and avoid recontact with the vehicle. Variants include ejecting weapons or equipment from aircraft in emergencies, with standardized release mechanisms to ensure controlled separation.