rocketry

Rocketry is the discipline that covers the design, development, testing, and operation of rockets and rocket-powered systems. It combines physics, engineering, and mathematics to understand how a vehicle can accelerate by expelling reaction mass, producing thrust to overcome gravity and atmospheric drag. The field supports both military and civilian aims, from missiles to space exploration.

The history of rocketry spans ancient and modern eras. Early forms arose with gunpowder-based devices in China and the broader Middle East. In the 20th century, rapid advances followed, including Konstantin Tsiolkovsky’s rocket equation and the first liquid-fueled rocket experiments by Robert Goddard. Large national programs led by figures such as Sergei Korolev and Wernher von Braun propelled humans and instruments beyond Earth, culminating in crewed spaceflight and multi-stage launch vehicles that deliver payloads to orbit.

Principles and technologies in rocketry include propulsion methods, vehicle structures, guidance and control, and aerodynamics. The dominant launch propulsion is chemical rockets, which use liquid, solid, or hybrid propellants. Multi-stage configurations shed mass to reach higher velocities and altitudes. In addition to chemical systems, electric propulsion (such as ion and Hall-effect thrusters) provides high efficiency for in-space propulsion but is typically unsuitable for initial launches. Nuclear thermal and other advanced concepts have been explored, though none have become routine for routine launches.

Applications of rocketry include satellite deployment, planetary and interplanetary exploration, and crewed spaceflight. Military missiles also rely on rocketry. The field is governed by safety standards and international agreements governing the use of space and missile technology, emphasizing responsible development and peaceful exploration.