Do rockets have engines or motors?

Question

Because there no real moving parts.

Answer 1

rockets doesnt have either engine nor motors,

They have a propulsion system

Answer 2

engine

Answer 3

That's a good question and one that engineer's argue over all the time. In modern terms, the two words are nearly synonymous and are used interchangeably when referring to rockets...small and large.

http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/e...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine

Answer 4

Neither.  They have a propulsion system.

Answer 5

In rockets it all about hot air and combustion. When a rocket launches, most people think that fire does it all, yes fire is there, but hot air is what pushes the rocket off the ground. You know how hot air rises, right? Thats also a major reason. I don't suppose there are any major moving parts, but I am sure that combustion is most important on take off. Rockets also have a chemical reaction, which is why they use some sort of nuclear in the process. This way, it is suitable to lift a huge aircraft so high into the sky, with less effort. All these things, hot air, nuclear, and other smaller components help launch.

This is called propulsion. So overall, they must have engines to burn the fuel.

Answer 6

At first NASA seems to use Motor and Engine interchangeably.  After looking at so doc's on the NASA site it appears to me that Solid  propellant type rockets are referred to as motors.  Cryogenic / Liquid fuel rockets appear to be referred to as Engines.

A major distinction is that Solid propellant "Motors" cannot be restarted and once started burn till they run out of fuel.

Rocket Engines  seem to refer to rockets that can be stopped and restarted. Such as second stage and orbital maneuvering engines.

Rocket Engines do have moving parts such as gymbal mounts for vectoring thrust and fuel pumps and valves.  Solid propellant motors would have fewer moving parts as they wouldn't need pumps and valves. I do not know if the SRB's have gymbaled nozzels. This could be anotherdistinctionn in the definition between Engine vs Motor

Answer 7

they have a computerized guidance system

Answer 8

Good question

Its an engine

Answer 9

If the propulsion system uses gas, or jet fuel,

it is an engine. If it uses rocket fuel, it is a motor.

Get the picture? jet engines, rocket motors. Engines use the oxygen from the air and rockets carry their own oxygen.

Answer 10

Engines.  The moving parts consist of valves which regulate the mix of fuel, an ignition element to ignite the fuel and a gimballed vent or venturi to direct the propulsion.

Answer 11

Rockets use a chemical reaction, so none of the above.

http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/0018...

Answer 12

Rockets are engines, But they Can have moving parts such as the nozzles that direct the thrust, So the nozzle is actually the engine that controls the direction of the exhaust of the chemical reaction. Motors are electric or pneumatic.

Answer 13

Rockets have engines.  

Engines burn some kind of fuel to do the work.  Motors use electricity to do their work.