/sci/ - Science & Math

>>11580316
If a rocket is pointing at you you'll be pushed on by its exhaust, but that doesn't necessarily have to have any influence on the rocket itself. That's the disconnect where people keep thinking rockets need a substrate to travel through.

Now granted, if a rocket nozzle is SUPER close to the ground such that its exhaust is having some trouble escaping to the side, I would imagine that an area of high pressure could temporarily establish in a zone under that nozzle which increases the resulting upwards force. Unless you're designing for it it'll probably destroy your rocket, and since orbital boosters are already towards their design limits you would want to launch with a place for that exhaust to go. For lighter duty like landing stages low on fuel it's probably fine.