The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation

The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation describes how a rocket's velocity changes as it burns fuel. It shows that the more fuel you burn and how efficiently your engines use that fuel, the faster you can go. Essentially, to reach higher speeds or travel further, a rocket needs more fuel, but carrying extra fuel adds weight, requiring even more fuel—so there's a balance. This equation helps engineers calculate the necessary fuel and design rockets to achieve desired velocities for space missions.