Rocket Engine

space · physics · propulsion · engineering

Newton's Third Law. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When a rocket shoots hot gas backwards really fast, the gas pushes the rocket forwards with the same amount of force.

Carries Its Own Oxygen. Unlike jet engines that need air around them to burn fuel, rockets carry their own oxidiser (a chemical that helps fuel burn). This means rockets can work in the vacuum of space where there is no air at all.

Super Hot Gas Jet. Rocket engines burn fuel to create a high-temperature gas that shoots out the back at incredible speeds. This powerful jet of gas is what produces all the thrust that pushes the rocket forward.

Beyond Just Fire. Not all rocket engines use combustion (burning). Some use cold gas thrusters, nuclear thermal rockets, or ion engines to create thrust in different ways.

Many Uses. Rocket engines power spaceships, missiles, and ballistic missiles. They are the only engines that can push something fast enough to escape Earth's gravity completely.