How do space rockets maintain stability?
All spacecraft maintain stability through inertial guidance systems. The most basic being three gyroscopes mounted in an X,Y, Z axes of the guidance module. This enables ground control to manage the craft in an extremely stable configuration. Thrusters only play a roll in maneuvering the craft. The problem occurs when gyroscopes fail (and they do fail) A few years ago all but two of Hubble’s 5 gyroscopes failed and the satellite was in serious trouble. However, NASA was able to maintain it’s stability until a servicing mission was able to replace the ailing gyros. When the gyroscopes of the inertial guidance system fail the rocket will hopelessly tumble about it’s center of gravity. Inertial guidance was well understood in the 1950’s, so by the late 1960’s it was old technology. As a result the moon missions were more than able to maintain stability across the void of space. BTW, in the 60’s we were a technologically advanced society and had been for several decades. We had computing d
