Delta-V

Delta-V, short for "change in velocity," is a measure used in physics and engineering, particularly in aerospace. It quantifies the amount of effort needed to change an object's speed or direction. For rockets, Delta-V indicates how much speed they can gain or lose to achieve specific maneuvers, like launching into space or changing orbits. Essentially, it represents the “fuel budget” required for a spacecraft to complete its journey successfully, factoring in both speed adjustments and gravitational influences. In simpler terms, Delta-V helps engineers design missions by determining how far and fast a spacecraft can go.