Propellant

Propellant is the substance that provides the force needed to propel an object, such as a rocket or missile, by burning or releasing stored energy. When ignited, the propellant produces gases that rapidly expand and are expelled at high speed through a nozzle, creating thrust. This process follows Newton’s third law: as the gases are pushed out one way, the rocket moves in the opposite direction. Propellants can be solid, liquid, or hybrid, and they are essential for launching spacecraft, missiles, or other driven systems into motion.