Rocket propulsion works in a vacuum by Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Here’s a breakdown:
1. No Need for Air
• Rockets carry both fuel and oxidizer.
• They don’t rely on atmospheric oxygen, so they can operate in space (a vacuum).
2. Action-Reaction Principle
• The rocket burns fuel, creating high-speed exhaust gases.
• These gases are ejected out the nozzle at high velocity.
• The reaction to this expulsion pushes the rocket forward.
3. Key Misconception
• A rocket doesn’t “push against air.” It pushes against its own expelled mass (the exhaust).
• In a vacuum, there’s no resistance, so less energy is lost to drag.
4. Thrust Formula (Simplified)
• Thrust = mass flow rate × exhaust velocity
• Higher exhaust velocity or more fuel burned per second = more thrust.
5. Efficiency
• Rockets are often more efficient in vacuum due to:
• No atmospheric pressure pushing back on the exhaust.
• No drag from air resistance.
TL;DR:
Rockets work in space because they eject mass at high speed in one direction, which propels them in the opposite direction—air isn’t needed.