Mapping the Language of Spaceflight Launch and Ascent Terminology Every mission starts with a launch, the moment the vehicle leaves the laun

Mapping the Language of Spaceflight Launch and Ascent Terminology Every mission starts with a launch, the moment the vehicle leaves the launch pad. The initial push is called liftoff, driven by thrust from the rocket engines. As the vehicle climbs, it follows an ascent trajectory that is divided into stages. When a stage finishes burning its propellant, it experiences stage burnout and separates, allowing the next stage to ignite. Modern launch vehicles rely heavily on automatic functions-systems that operate without crew intervention-while automation refers to the broader implementation of such processes throughout the flight. Understanding these basic words lets you...