What happens when a rocket launches?
If it’s a liquid-fueled rocket (such as the space shuttle’s main engines), here are some of the things that happen just before and during the launch: 1) The tanks pressurize 2) Turbo pumps spin up and blast fuel (usually liquid hydrogen or kerosene) and liquid oxygen into the reaction chamber at high velocity 3) An ignition source starts the reaction, which sustains itself 4) The combustion products quickly build up very large pressure and force themselves down the nozzle 5) As the nozzle converges and then diverges (a de Laval nozzle), the exhaust is accelerated faster than the speed of sound 6) Once sufficient thrust has been achieved, the rocket is released and begins climbing
