All current rockets eject stages or booster rockets as they climb from the earth's surface up to orbit. A rocket that did not eject any stages or booster rockets while climbing from the ground to orbit would
A) experience too much drag while in orbit and would be unable to remain in orbit for more than a day or two.
B) not have anything beneath the rocket on which to push and would be unable to propel itself upward after it left the launch pad area.
C) clutter the space around the earth with orbiting debris.
D) have to have a launch weight that was about 90% rocket fuel.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reason a rocket that did not eject any stages or booster rockets would need to have a launch weight that is about 90% rocket fuel is due to the rocket equation, which dictates that in order to achieve orbit, a significant portion of a rocket's mass must be fuel. This is necessary to overcome Earth's gravity and achieve the required velocity for orbit. Staging allows rockets to shed weight as they ascend, making it more efficient to reach orbit. A single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, which does not eject stages, would indeed need to carry a much larger proportion of fuel relative to its total mass.

All Current Rockets Eject Stages or Booster Rockets as They