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Natural Sciences · Intermediate

Rockets & Spaceflight

Why are rockets mostly fuel? Why do they come in stages? Why do you slow down to catch up with a space station? Learn the rocket equation, the strange rules of orbital driving, how spacecraft steal speed from planets, why ion engines are patient, and how capsules survive coming home.

7 lessons~40 min0/7 complete
Start courseHelpful background: Gravity & Orbits
1

Getting Up There

Thrust and the rocket equation.

  1. How Rockets PushMomentum, not air
  2. The Rocket EquationThe tyranny of the logarithm
  3. StagingWhy rockets drop pieces
2

Moving Around Up There

Orbital driving lessons.

  1. Orbital ManoeuvresSlow down to speed up
  2. Gravity AssistsStealing speed from planets
3

Engines and Re-entry

Better exhaust, and getting home.

  1. Engines ComparedExhaust speed is everything
  2. Coming HomeRe-entry and heat shields