In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, and over 600 people have traveled to Space since then. Yet, only three countries are currently capable of human…
Modern orbital rockets are multistage launch vehicles, which means they require two or more stages to reach orbit, with each stage using its own propulsion system. A rocket interstage forms…
Liquid rocket fuels, primarily RP-1, hydrogen, and methane, are often directly compared & debated. Solid rocket fuel, though the oldest form of rocket propellant, remains a crucial part of modern…
RP-1 has been the propellant of choice for fueling the first stages of orbital rockets for over half a century. For their upper stages, though, liquid hydrogen is commonly used….
For over half a century, RP-1, hydrogen, solid rocket & hypergolic fuel were the propellants of choice for launch providers. In recent years, though, liquid methane has become an attractive…
The Saturn V rockets used during the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s carried an astonishing 810 700 liters of RP-1 fuel in their first-stage boosters. But what is…
The Saturn V rockets that launched astronauts to the Lunar surface had over three million moving parts constructed from various materials. We take a closer look at the different materials…
The thundering sound an orbital rocket generates during launch is still deafening, and its vibrations are felt, shaking the ground three miles away. It raises the question of exactly how…
The blistering hot flames blasting through a rocket’s nozzles as it launches into Space are synonymous with any orbital rocket launch. A very specific mechanism must be used to initiate…
Whenever you think of a rocket launch, most people think of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. There are, however, several prominent launch facilities around the world that serve the…
