Rocket Thrust & Launch Simulator
Set fuel, engine efficiency and throttle, launch a rocket and see altitude and speed graphs.
Set the fuel, engine efficiency (Isp) and throttle, then launch. The rocket only lifts off when thrust is bigger than its weight.
About the Rocket Thrust & Launch Simulator
Free rocket thrust & launch simulator. Set fuel, engine efficiency and throttle, launch a rocket and see altitude and speed graphs. Drag, change the sliders and see the result live. No sign-up, works on phone and computer. Built for engineering, the rocket thrust & launch simulator runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Set fuel, engine efficiency and throttle, launch a rocket and see altitude and speed graphs. Use it to explore engineering ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Rocket Thrust & Launch Simulator
- Use the controls to change Fuel mass, Engine efficiency (Isp), Throttle (fuel burn rate), Playback speed. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as Normal, Fast ×4 to switch modes or load an example.
- Press "Launch!", "Reset" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Launch with too little throttle and watch it stay on the pad.
- Double the fuel and compare the height reached.
- Raise Isp to 450 s.
Key ideas you can learn
- Thrust = exhaust speed × mass of fuel burned per second.
- A rocket lifts off only if thrust > weight.
- Δv = vₑ ln(m₀ / m_f) (the rocket equation).
- Burning fuel makes the rocket lighter, so it accelerates faster.
Where this is used in the real world
Space agencies use the rocket equation to plan every mission from satellites to Mars.
Who is this simulation for?
Engineering and technology students, makers, robotics clubs and teachers of design and technology. It gives a hands-on feel for how machines behave before you build a real one.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is specific impulse?
A measure of engine efficiency: the exhaust speed divided by g. Higher Isp means more velocity from the same fuel.
Why do rockets need so much fuel?
The rocket equation is logarithmic: to gain more speed you must carry exponentially more fuel.
Is the Rocket Thrust & Launch Simulator free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Rocket Thrust & Launch Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.