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A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag. These structures are generally light-weight shapes and covers for gaps and spaces between parts of a vehicle, aircraft or rocket to reduce form drag and interference drag, and to improve appearance.
On aircraft, fairings are commonly found on:
wing tips, which may have a complex shape to reduce vortex generation and so also drag, especially at low speed
tail cones, to reduce the form drag of the fuselage
strut-to-wing and strut-to-fuselage junctions
wheels on fixed gear aircraft — often called "wheel pants"
The fairings on satellite launch vehicles are expensive, high tech designs that protect the satellite from aerodynamic forces while maintaining a cleanroom environment. The fairing separation mechanisms for rocket launchers are difficult to design and test and represent a significant cause of launch failures.
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