Space Exploration Stack Exchange
Space Exploration Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [rockets]

Questions regarding the boosters or thrusters used to propel man-made objects. For rockets firing opposite the primaries, see [retrorockets]. See wiki for other related tags.

For the equation used to calculate the exhaust velocity needed to achieve a specific delta-v, see

For amateur rocket development and testing, see , , and

For sub-orbital rockets used for scientific measurements, see

For rockets which utilize a solid and liquid propellant, see

For questions about rockets exploding, see

For rockets affixed to a sled for acceleration testing, see

1238 questions
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How do rocket scientists do iterative development?

In software, the general process for developing anything is code, test, fix, repeat. This is easy and cheap, because running a program typically costs an incalculably small amount of money. In rocket science, it's different. Each launch can cost…
TheEnvironmentalist
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How small could an orbital rocket be?

To what extent might a booster designed to place an extremely light weight "micro" satellite with radio transmitter, say 100 grams for the sake of argument, be scaled down before factors such as increased aerodynamic drag on smaller objects, mass…
jpfop
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How good was the precision of German V2 rockets?

I read somewhere that only 2/3 of the V2 rockets reached their target - but how good was their precision when they reached the target? ±100 m? ±1 km? ±10 km?
d-b
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What is the typical mach number at which the peak dynamic pressure occurs?

Is there any mach number range (say 0.8-1.4) where the maximum Q of the rocket should occur?
Vasanth C
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Does thrust depend on rocket chamber shape?

I mark with green part of rocket which produce forward thrust and with red backward thrust. integration of pressure around rocket walls gives total thrust,which always act in forward direction.. Does thrust depend on rocket chamber shape and what is…
Aeronautic Freek
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Constant acceleration Rockets

One recurring idea is to use continuous thrust in a spacecraft to create artificial gravity. Of course this would need a whole lot of fuel and is thus very impractical. But how impractical exactly? I tried to solve this; my question is whether this…
mart
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Why does SpaceX use Methane instead of Butane?

Genuinely, curious on why they use Methane as it's much harder to compress and liquefy whereas butane liquefies easily and is highly compressible.
Mars ftw
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How is the height of a rocket measured?

How is the height of rockets measured? For example, the Saturn V is 363 feet tall, but is that 363 ft from the tip of the launch abort tower to the bottom of the engine bell or is it from the tip of the launch abort tower to the bottom of the rocket…
Philip Waldman
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Water Powered Rocket to Orbit?

We all have seen basic water rockets, where pressurized air pushes out water creating downward force. Is it theoretically possible that a water rocket could create enough force, for a long enough duration, to reach orbit? If not is it possible that…
Aaron M
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Static forces on a rocket engine

I am trying to understand where and how the thrust forces act in a rocket engine. I had assumed that the net thrust could be "ball-parked" as the chamber pressure multiplied by the throat area, but this doesn't work out. Take for example the…
Anthony X
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Could humanity have traveled in space with knowledge of only Newtonian physics?

Could humanity have entered the space age without relativity theory or quantum physics? (Other non-Newtonian physics would be allowed, it is actually the importance, or lack thereof, of relativity and quantum mechanics for space exploration which I…
LocalFluff
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What is the origin of the name "Skylark"?

I read that the name Skylark was one of a long list of names submitted to replace "CTV5 Series 3". But what I'm really interested in is whether there's any connection to the "Skylark" series of sci-fi novels written by E.E. "Doc" Smith in the 1920s…
Lance
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Do air augmented rocket give increased thrust over simple rockets from the very starting of the engine?

Augmented rockets increase thrust (about twice) by mixing the exhaust of a rocket with ambient air in order to accelerate a greater mass of gas at a lower speed. Is the effectivness of this system proportional to the speed of the rocket or does the…
Krzysztof Broda
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Can you refuel chemical rockets to increase the speed?

Chemical rockets have max delta v ( max.speed ) about 10 km/s. Can you refuel them in deep space to increase the speed? For example Nasa Deep space habitat (DSH). Once it is assembled in orbit with full tanks it can achieve max.speed 10 km/s which…
John Bambi
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Why aren't rockets made from steel?

I was reading about the sea dragon rocket and was wondering why rockets today aren't made of cheaper materials like steel? And could you make a steel rocket today?
Randster
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