MaxQ
MaxQ, sometimes written as Max-Q, is a term used in rocketry and aerospace to designate the point during atmospheric ascent when dynamic pressure on a vehicle reaches its maximum. Dynamic pressure, q, is defined as q = 0.5 × ρ × v², where ρ is atmospheric density and v is vehicle velocity. As a booster climbs, air density drops while speed increases, causing q to rise to a peak before decreasing in higher, thinner air.
The Max-Q event is significant because it represents the greatest structural and aerodynamic stress a vehicle
Max-Q typically occurs within minutes after launch and is highly dependent on the vehicle's trajectory, propulsion
See also: aerospace engineering, dynamic pressure, rocket ascent, throttling strategy.