Why Rockets Perform A Gravity Turn After Launch
Readers who regularly watch orbital rocket launches 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
Standing several stories high, orbital rockets may 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
Strap-on rocket boosters are so widely used that you probably have seen them multiple times already if you are a regular viewer of orbital rocket launches. But it raises the…
Can Rockets Be Nuclear Powered?
Since nuclear reactors power some of the world’s largest aircraft carriers and submarines, it makes sense that large orbital rockets will also benefit from this power source. Unfortunately, it is…
How Reaction Control Systems Allow Spacecraft To Maneuver In Space
Although they use the most powerful means of propulsion ever invented to carry them to orbit, it seems unclear how spacecraft maneuver once in the vacuum of Space. This is…
Why Orbital Rockets Don’t Launch From Underwater
Nuclear-armed submarines can launch missiles while submerged, which travel thousands of miles to deliver their warheads. This raises the question of why orbital rockets cannot be launched underwater. Although theoretically…
The Steps Involved In An Orbital Rocket Launch
It may differ from one launch vehicle to another, but most orbital rockets follow a similar procedure during a launch sequence. This article takes a closer look at the steps…
How Rocket Engines Stay Cool And Don’t Melt
The temperatures inside a rocket engine can reach up to 3 300° Celsius or 6 000° Fahrenheit. This will melt the vast majority of metals, which raises the question of…
How Fast Rockets Must Travel To Reach Space And Go Beyond
When an orbital rocket is launched, it seems to lift off very slowly from the launchpad, but within minutes it is traveling at hypersonic speeds, raising the question of how…
What Are The 4 Towers Around A Rocket Launchpad?
Modern orbital rockets that easily eclipse large multistory buildings are among the tallest structures at any launch complex. There are four towers around a launchpad, though, that eclipse the tallest…