Why do rockets need so much fuel?
Fuel's Heavy Climb
Why do rockets need so much fuel?
You've seen rocket launches — those massive towers on the pad, wrapped in frost, rumbling to life. The rocket itself is thin and sleek, but the fuel tanks are huge. Why does something designed to fly need to carry so much weight?
Here's the problem: Earth doesn't want to let you go. Gravity pulls everything down with serious force. To break free, a rocket needs to hit 25,000 miles per hour — that's called escape velocity. Anything slower, and gravity yanks you back down like a yo-yo on a string.
