| WHAT IS PROPULSION? | ||
Thrust is the force propelling a rocket forward. It does this by producing exhaust gases that rush out of the back of the engine. Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion, formulated in 1686, states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This means the backward motion of the engine’s exhaust (action) pushes the rocket forward (reaction). To be successful, a rocket’s propulsion system must generate enough thrust to overcome forces holding it on the ground. The forces opposed to the rocket’s thrust are (1) the weight of the rocket, and (2) the ‘drag’ on the rocket. |
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