Thrust


Thrust is the force that propels a spacecraft in the opposite direction to the exhaust of its engines. It is a crucial concept in space and astronautical engineering as it determines the acceleration and velocity of a spacecraft. The amount of thrust required depends on the mass of the spacecraft and the desired acceleration. Thrust is generated by the expulsion of mass at high velocity from the spacecraft's engines, according to Newton's third law of motion. In order to achieve the necessary thrust, spacecraft engines must be designed to efficiently convert fuel into energy and exhaust it at high speeds. The specific impulse of an engine is a measure of its efficiency in this regard. Thrust can also be affected by external factors such as atmospheric pressure and gravitational forces.


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