two-stage-to-orbit
Sign in to saveAlso known as TSTO, two-stage rocket, 2 stage to orbit
A two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) or two-stage rocket is a launch vehicle in which two distinct stages provide propulsion consecutively in order to achieve orbital velocity. It is intermediate between a three-stage-to-orbit launcher and a hypothetical single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) launcher.
~6 min read
Encyclopedic overview
6 sectionsContents
- Examples
- Reusable launch systems
- Helicopter-like first stage
- Airplane-like first stage
- See also
- References
A two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) or two-stage rocket is a launch vehicle in which two distinct stages provide propulsion consecutively in order to achieve orbital velocity. It is intermediate between a three-stage-to-orbit launcher and a hypothetical single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) launcher.
At liftoff the first stage is responsible for accelerating the vehicle. At some point the second stage detaches from the first stage and continues to orbit under its own power.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “two-stage-to-orbit” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.