<P> Rocket propellant is a material used by a rocket as , or to produce in a chemical reaction , the reaction mass ( propulsive mass ) that is ejected , typically with very high speed , from a rocket engine to produce thrust , and thus provide spacecraft propulsion . Each rocket type requires different kind of propellant : chemical rockets require propellants capable of undergoing exothermic chemical reactions , which provide the energy to accelerate the resulting gases through the nozzle . Thermal rockets instead use inert propellants of low molecular weight that are chemically compatible with the heating mechanism at high temperatures , while cold gas thrusters use pressurized , easily stored inert gases . Electric propulsion requires propellants that are easily ionized or made into plasma , and in the extreme case of nuclear pulse propulsion the propellant consists of many small , non-weapon nuclear explosives of which the resulting shock wave of propels the spacecraft away from the explosive , thereby creating propulsion . One such spacecraft was designed ( but never built ) , being dubbed `` Project Orion '' ( not to be confused with the NASA Orion spacecraft ) . </P>
<P> Rocket propellant is a material used by a rocket as , or to produce in a chemical reaction , the reaction mass ( propulsive mass ) that is ejected , typically with very high speed , from a rocket engine to produce thrust , and thus provide spacecraft propulsion . Each rocket type requires different kind of propellant : chemical rockets require propellants capable of undergoing exothermic chemical reactions , which provide the energy to accelerate the resulting gases through the nozzle . Thermal rockets instead use inert propellants of low molecular weight that are chemically compatible with the heating mechanism at high temperatures , while cold gas thrusters use pressurized , easily stored inert gases . Electric propulsion requires propellants that are easily ionized or made into plasma , and in the extreme case of nuclear pulse propulsion the propellant consists of many small , non-weapon nuclear explosives of which the resulting shock wave of propels the spacecraft away from the explosive , thereby creating propulsion . One such spacecraft was designed ( but never built ) , being dubbed `` Project Orion '' ( not to be confused with the NASA Orion spacecraft ) . </P>
what kind of fuel do space rockets use
what kind of fuel do space rockets use
Rocket propellant
Rocket propellant