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[[File:Rocket schematic.jpg|thumb|Rocket]]
 
:''You may also be looking for the actor [[Charles Rocket]].''
 
:''You may also be looking for the actor [[Charles Rocket]].''
A '''rocket''' was a form of [[spacecraft]] [[propulsion]], usually used when a society began the early stages of space flight. It was simple, and could be constructed from easily available materials. Rocket engines could also be used in a wide range of other applications, from fireworks to weapons.
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A '''rocket''' was a form of [[spacecraft]] [[propulsion]], usually used when a society began the early stages of space flight. It was relatively simple, and could be constructed from easily available materials. Rocket engines could also be used in a wide range of other applications, from fireworks to weapons.
   
 
== Uses of rockets ==
 
== Uses of rockets ==
Rockets are rarely used in societies which have attained [[warp]] and/or [[impulse]] travel, although they occasionally find uses in small applications such as boosters for gravity boots. ({{film|5}}) A rocket has a limited maximum speed – it can only travel as fast as exhaust [[gas]]es are ejected, which in practical terms means that a rocket cannot go faster than about 0.25''c'' (i.e. one quarter of the [[speed of light]]). Since the force of a rocket depends on the number, speed and mass of the exhaust gas particles, rockets are also impractical for propelling large vehicles, in contrast to [[fusion generator|fusion-powered]] impulse engines (especially those with [[driver coil]]s, such as those found aboard a {{ShipClass|Galaxy}} [[starship]]).
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Rockets were rarely used in societies which had attained [[warp]] and/or [[impulse]] travel, although they occasionally found uses in small applications such as boosters for gravity boots. ({{film|5}}) Rockets had a limited maximum speed – they could only travel as fast as exhaust [[gas]]es are ejected, which in practical terms means that a rocket could not go faster than about 0.25''c'' (i.e. one quarter of the [[speed of light]]). Since the force of a rocket depended on the number, speed and mass of the exhaust gas particles, rockets were also impractical for propelling large vehicles, in contrast to [[fusion generator|fusion-powered]] impulse engines (especially those with [[driver coil]]s, such as those found aboard [[Federation]] {{class|Galaxy}} [[starship]]s).
   
In [[2151]] [[Commander]] [[Charles Tucker III|Tucker]] referred to the risky job astronauts did with the use of rockets: ''In the old days, [[astronaut]]s rode rockets with millions of litres of [[hydrogen]] burning under their seats. You think they said, gee I'd love to go to the [[Luna|moon]] today but it seems a little risky?''. ({{ENT|Silent Enemy}})
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In [[2151]], [[Commander]] [[Charles Tucker III]] remarked about the dangerous nature of rockets: ''"In the old days, [[astronaut]]s rode rockets with millions of liters of [[hydrogen]] burning under their seats. You think they said, gee I'd love to go to the [[Luna|moon]] today but it seems a little risky?"'' ({{ENT|Silent Enemy}})
   
The quick replacement of rockets by more advanced systems was in stark contrast with what [[human]] [[science fiction]] writers had envisioned; [[Rocket ship]]s were a staple of early science fiction stories, and could often be seen on the cover of genre magazines like [[Galaxy (magazine)|Galaxy]] or [[Incredible Tales]]. ({{DS9|Far Beyond the Stars}})
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The quick replacement of rockets by more advanced systems was in stark contrast with what [[Human]] [[science fiction]] writers had envisioned; [[rocket ship]]s were a staple of early science fiction stories, and could often be seen on the cover of genre magazines like [[Galaxy (magazine)|Galaxy]] or [[Incredible Tales]]. ({{DS9|Far Beyond the Stars}})
   
 
== Significant rockets ==
 
== Significant rockets ==
Due to their simplicity, rockets are a common form of propulsion for a society's first space flights. Although possibly indicative of a low technological level, they have been encountered in both the [[23rd century|23rd]] and [[24th century|24th centuries]]. The {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, for example, encountered a rocket-propelled missile in [[2268]]. ({{TOS|Patterns of Force}})
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Due to their relative simplicity, rockets were a common form of propulsion for a society's first space flights and were often indicative of a low technological level.
   
One of the most famous rockets in [[Earth]] history was the ''[[Phoenix]]'', [[Zefram Cochrane]]'s first warp-powered spacecraft. Although the ''Phoenix'' itself was powered by an early warp drive, it had to be boosted into Earth [[orbit]] by a [[chemical]] rocket (which was, at that time, the only practical launch system available). The booster Cochrane used for his historic flight was modified from a [[Titan II]] [[nuclear weapon|nuclear missile]]. ({{film|8}})
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One of the most famous rockets in [[Earth]]'s history was the ''[[Phoenix]]'', [[Zefram Cochrane]]'s first warp-powered spacecraft. Although the ''Phoenix'' itself was powered by an early warp drive, it had to be boosted into Earth [[orbit]] by a [[chemical]] rocket (which was, at that time, the only practical launch system available). The booster Cochrane used for his historic flight was modified from a [[Titan II]] [[nuclear weapon|nuclear missile]]. ({{film|8}})
   
Early in her career, the USS ''Enterprise'' was also equipped with rockets that could be used to escape planetary orbit in the event of an emergency. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
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Rockets did sometimes find applications among [[warp-capable]] civilizations. For example, {{Class|Constitution}} starships were equipped with rockets that could be used to quickly escape planetary orbit in the event of an emergency. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
   
 
===See also===
 
===See also===
 
*[[Rocket ship]]
 
*[[Rocket ship]]
*[[Mercury-Redstone]]
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*[[Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle]]
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*[[Rocket launcher]]
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*[[Saturn V]]
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*[[Hugo award]] (rocket-shaped)
   
 
==External link==
 
==External link==
*{{wikipedia}}
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* {{wikipedia}}
   
 
[[de:Rakete]]
 
[[de:Rakete]]
[[Category:Technology]]
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[[fr:Fusée]]
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[[Category:Propulsion technology]]
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[[Category:Starship classifications]]

Revision as of 04:24, 21 April 2016

Rocket schematic

Rocket

You may also be looking for the actor Charles Rocket.

A rocket was a form of spacecraft propulsion, usually used when a society began the early stages of space flight. It was relatively simple, and could be constructed from easily available materials. Rocket engines could also be used in a wide range of other applications, from fireworks to weapons.

Uses of rockets

Rockets were rarely used in societies which had attained warp and/or impulse travel, although they occasionally found uses in small applications such as boosters for gravity boots. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) Rockets had a limited maximum speed – they could only travel as fast as exhaust gases are ejected, which in practical terms means that a rocket could not go faster than about 0.25c (i.e. one quarter of the speed of light). Since the force of a rocket depended on the number, speed and mass of the exhaust gas particles, rockets were also impractical for propelling large vehicles, in contrast to fusion-powered impulse engines (especially those with driver coils, such as those found aboard Federation Galaxy-class starships).

In 2151, Commander Charles Tucker III remarked about the dangerous nature of rockets: "In the old days, astronauts rode rockets with millions of liters of hydrogen burning under their seats. You think they said, gee I'd love to go to the moon today but it seems a little risky?" (ENT: "Silent Enemy")

The quick replacement of rockets by more advanced systems was in stark contrast with what Human science fiction writers had envisioned; rocket ships were a staple of early science fiction stories, and could often be seen on the cover of genre magazines like Galaxy or Incredible Tales. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")

Significant rockets

Due to their relative simplicity, rockets were a common form of propulsion for a society's first space flights and were often indicative of a low technological level.

One of the most famous rockets in Earth's history was the Phoenix, Zefram Cochrane's first warp-powered spacecraft. Although the Phoenix itself was powered by an early warp drive, it had to be boosted into Earth orbit by a chemical rocket (which was, at that time, the only practical launch system available). The booster Cochrane used for his historic flight was modified from a Titan II nuclear missile. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Rockets did sometimes find applications among warp-capable civilizations. For example, Constitution-class starships were equipped with rockets that could be used to quickly escape planetary orbit in the event of an emergency. (TOS: "The Cage")

See also

External link