Rocket engines

Rocket engines generate thrust by expelling mass at high speed, following Newton's third law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. They burn fuel—such as liquid or solid propellants—to produce hot gases that are expelled through a nozzle. This rapid expulsion creates a force that propels the rocket forward, allowing it to overcome gravity and leave Earth's atmosphere. Rocket engines are highly efficient for space travel because they carry both fuel and oxidizer, enabling them to operate independently of atmospheric oxygen. They are essential for launching satellites, space probes, and crewed missions beyond Earth.