Did you know that since gunpowder was invented in China more than seven centuries ago, cylinders have been sent into space with the help of controlled explosions?
These ships and their engines are called rockets and have been used to make fireworks, alarm signals and weapons of war. But since the 1950s they have been vehicles designed to travel outside the Earth's atmosphere and into space.
They can transport rovers, satellites, supplies, astronauts and more... But how are they launched? The European Space Agency (ESA) reported that the new European launcher, Ariane 6, uses liquid oxygen and hydrogen as fuel to take it off the ground and take it into space.
This fuel is cooled to -150°C, allowing more propellant to be loaded into the rocket with more fuel from the engine.
To control Ariane 6's direction after launch, the thruster nozzles and main stage can rotate to stay on course. It's no easy task, as the Ariane 6 is 56m tall and controlled at the bottom, so it's a careful balancing act.
Source: European Space Agency (ESA)
