How is a Spacecraft Launched?

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A spacecraft is thrust into space by huge, powerful rockets. To escape from the Earth, the rocket must travel at a speed of 1 1 km/sec.

A single craft cannot carry enough fuel to reach this speed, hence a three stage rocket is used. As one stage runs out of fuel, it falls away and the next stage fires. When all the three stages have gone, the space craft speeds through space on its own. The Indian satellite Rohini used a four stage rocket while launching in 1980.

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