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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Rockets & Spacecraft

Stage

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

/steɪdʒ/nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, stage means: One section of a rocket with its own engines and propellant. When a stage runs out of fuel, it separates and drops away, making the rest of the rocket lighter.

In Turkish: kademe

How it is used

Rockets are described as two-stage or three-stage. Launch commentary includes 'stage separation', 'second-stage ignition' and 'upper stage'. In general English, 'stage' also means a step or phase.

Example sentences

  1. We have confirmation of stage separation, and the second-stage engine has ignited.

  2. The upper stage will place the satellite into its final orbit.

Common collocations

  • first stage
  • upper stage
  • stage separation
  • two-stage rocket
  • second-stage ignition
  • boosterA rocket or rocket stage that gives extra thrust in the first minutes of a launch and then separates. Side boosters are attached to the outside of the main rocket.
  • rocketA vehicle or engine that moves forward by pushing hot gas out of the back at high speed. Rockets are used to send satellites, probes and crews into space.
  • launch vehicleA rocket designed to carry a payload from Earth's surface into space. The term covers all its stages, engines and boosters together.
  • propellantThe fuel and the oxidiser that a rocket burns to produce thrust. Common examples are liquid hydrogen, kerosene, methane and liquid oxygen.

More terms: Rockets & Spacecraft

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