by Tarek Musslimani

Created on: October 12, 2010

A rocket is an independent aeronautical system whose mechanics of motion obey the classical laws of mechanics formulated by Isaac Newton.  A rocket is a transport system that is used to transport an object from one place to another. It has two main applications, one is a military use and the other is an application in the research of the outer space.  In the military use of rockets, it is used to transport all kinds of explosives from conventional warheads such as TNT and TNP to the transport of chemical weapons such as nerve gases.  This is in addition to the transport of nuclear warheads and bacteriological weapons. 

In the use of rockets for the exploration of space and research performance in the outer atmosphere, rockets can be used to transport heavy systems such as the US shuttles and the Russian spaceship Soyouz. The mechanics that govern the motion of rockets within the atmosphere of the earth is completely different than that used in outer space.  In order to send a rocket to  outer space outside the earth's atmosphere, one needs to overcome the gravitational force of the earth.  In addition, the mechanics in the outer atmosphere are completely different because of the lack of the gravitational field usually experienced by flying objects within the atmosphere of the earth. 

According to the law of energy conservation, an object on the earth surface requires a specific amount of velocity in order to be able to escape the gravitational field of the planet.  This is also applicable to rockets that intend to leave the earth's atmosphere in space exploration missions.  Nowadays, technology shows that it is not a problem to achieve such as velocity even for a rocket bearing heavy weights such as the American space shuttle.  This is usually achieved through the choice of fuel that has a remarkable propelling capability. 

A shuttle in outer space that is revolving around the earth is all the time in a state of free falling.  Namely, it feels as if it is freely  falling to the earth surface.   After reaching the escape velocity rockets that are sent to another planet usually use nuclear fuel due to the long period of time that is required for the rocket to achieve its destination.  

The mechanics of rocket propulsion in outer space is governed by the law of conservation of momentum

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