Why Rockets Perform A Gravity Turn After Launch
Regular viewers of orbital rocket launches will know that rockets do not travel straight up to space but follow a curved trajectory to orbit. This specific path is possible due…
How A Rocket Is Hold Upright And In Place On A Launchpad
While standing several stories high, orbital rockets seem to be delicately balanced on their launchpad. Looks can be deceiving, though, since launch providers make sure their vehicles stay securely upright…
Strap-On Boosters – What They Are And Their Purpose On Orbital Rockets
They are so widely used that the chances are slim that you never saw them in use before if you are a regular viewer of orbital rocket launches. But it…
Can Rockets Be Nuclear Powered?
With many of the world’s aircraft carriers & submarines powered by nuclear reactors, it only makes sense that large orbital rockets would also benefit from this power source. Unfortunately, it…
How Reaction Control Systems Allow Spacecraft To Maneuver In Space
They arguably use the most powerful means of propulsion on Earth to carry them to orbit, but how do spacecraft maneuver once in the vacuum of space? This is where…
Why Orbital Rockets Don’t Launch From Underwater
A nuclear-armed submarine can launch its missiles while submerged, which travel thousands of miles to deliver their warheads, raising the question of why orbital rockets can’t also launch from underwater….
The Steps Involved In An Orbital Rocket Launch
Although it differs from one launch vehicle to another, most orbital rockets follow a similar procedure during a launch sequence. This article takes a closer look at the steps involved…
How Rocket Engines Stay Cool And Don’t Melt
Inside a rocket engine, temperatures reach close to 3 300° Celsius (6 000° Fahrenheit). This will melt the vast majority of metals, which raises the question of how rocket engines…
How Fast Rockets Must Travel To Reach Space And Go Beyond
Whenever an orbital rocket is launched, it seems to lift off very slowly from the launchpad, but within minutes it is traveling at hypersonic speeds. It inevitably raises the question…
What Are The 4 Towers Around A Rocket Launchpad?
With modern rockets easily eclipsing large multistory buildings, they are among the tallest structures at any launch complex. There are four towers around a launchpad, though, that eclipses the tallest…