Space travel

Spaceflight is the movement of spacecraft into and through outer space, primarily using rocket technology for propulsion. Spaceflight is used in space exploration, and also in commercial activities like space tourism and satellite telecommunications. Additional non-commercial uses of spaceflight include space observatories, reconnaissance satellites and other earth observation satellites.

A spaceflight begins with a launch, which provides the initial thrust to overcome the force of gravity and propel the spacecraft from the surface of the Earth. Once in space, the motion of a spacecraft -- both when unpropelled and when under propulsion -- is determined by astrodynamics. Some spacecraft remain in space indefinitely, some disintegrate during atmospheric reentry, and others reach the surface for landing or impact.