Rakétatechnika

Rakétatechnika, or rocket technology, refers to the branch of aerospace engineering that covers the design, development, testing, and operation of rockets and their propulsion systems. It encompasses propellant chemistry, engine cycles, vehicle architecture, staging, guidance and control, and the integration of payloads for space missions and, in some cases, military applications.

Historically, rocketry has roots in ancient gunpowder devices in China, but modern rocket technology began with pioneers such as Robert Goddard, whose liquid-fuel rocket experiments in the early 20th century demonstrated practical propulsion, and with German engineers who contributed advanced rocket designs during World War II. After the war, large-scale programs in the United States and the Soviet Union accelerated the development of multi-stage launch vehicles and orbital missions, culminating in the Space Age with satellite launches and human spaceflight.

Most modern launch vehicles use chemical propulsion, either liquid-fueled engines, solid rocket motors, or hybrids. Liquid engines offer controllability and higher specific impulse, while solids provide simplicity and high thrust. Vehicle design typically employs staged architectures to achieve the velocity required for orbit, along with thrust vectoring, guidance, navigation, and control systems to maintain trajectory and attitude. Avionics, propellant tanks, and payload fairings are integral components.

Applications include satellite deployment, interplanetary probes, and crewed missions, as well as defense uses such as ballistic missiles. The field faces ongoing challenges in propulsion efficiency, cost, reliability, safety, and environmental impact, and is subject to international regulation, licensing, and export controls to manage dual-use technology and risk.