rocket equation

English

An Atlas V rocket. It will launch New Horizons. Thanks to the rocket equation, the rocket was huge relative to its payload: over a thousand times heavier than New Horizons itself. Moral: rockets are a brutally inefficient way to get into space.

Noun

rocket equation (uncountable)

1. The equation for how much delta-v a rocket produces: Δv = v_e ln(m₀/m₁); where Δv is delta-v, v_e is effective exhaust velocity, ln is the natural log function, m₀ is initial mass of the rocket, and m₁ is final mass of the rocket.