Editing Rocket (section)

== Flight ==
[[File:STS-134 launch 2.ogv|thumb|Video of the launch of {{OV|105}} on [[STS-134]]]]
Launches for [[orbital spaceflight]]s, or into [[interplanetary space]], are usually from a fixed location on the ground, but would also be possible from an aircraft or ship.

Rocket launch technologies include the entire set of systems needed to successfully launch a vehicle, not just the vehicle itself, but also the [[firing control system]]s, [[mission control center]], [[launch pad]], [[ground station]]s, and [[tracking station]]s needed for a successful launch or recovery or both. These are often collectively referred to as the "[[ground segment]]".

Orbital [[launch vehicle]]s commonly take off vertically, and then begin to progressively lean over, usually following a [[gravity turn]] trajectory.

Once above the majority of the atmosphere, the vehicle then angles the rocket jet, pointing it largely horizontally but somewhat downwards, which permits the vehicle to gain and then maintain altitude while increasing horizontal speed. As the speed grows, the vehicle will become more and more horizontal until at orbital speed, the engine will cut off.

All current vehicles ''stage'', that is, jettison hardware on the way to orbit. Although [[Single-stage-to-orbit|vehicles have been proposed]] which would be able to reach orbit without staging, none have ever been constructed, and, if powered only by rockets,  the [[Tsiolkovsky rocket equation|exponentially increasing fuel requirements]] of such a vehicle would make its useful payload tiny or nonexistent. Most current and historical launch vehicles "expend" their jettisoned hardware, typically by allowing it to crash into the ocean, but some have recovered and reused jettisoned hardware, either by parachute or by propulsive landing.

[[File:PSLV XL C40 Cartosat-2F hazard zones for falling stage debris based on NOTAM.svg|thumb|Doglegged flight path of a PSLV launch to polar inclinations avoiding {{nowrap|Sri Lankan}} landmass]]
When launching a spacecraft to orbit, a "{{visible anchor|dogleg}}" is a guided, powered turn during ascent phase that causes a rocket's flight path to deviate from a "straight" path. A dogleg is necessary if the desired launch azimuth, to reach a desired orbital inclination, would take the [[ground track]] over land (or over a populated area, e.g. Russia usually does launch over land, but over unpopulated areas), or if the rocket is trying to reach an orbital plane that does not reach the [[latitude]] of the launch site. Doglegs are undesirable due to extra onboard fuel required, causing heavier load, and a reduction of vehicle performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moonport, CH1-2|url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch1-2.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.hq.nasa.gov|archive-date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925195412/https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch1-2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-06-22|title=Another task for the PSLV|language=en|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/another-task-for-the-pslv/article2123861.ece|access-date=2020-07-31|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>