ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rotary Rocket

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a helicopter or a merry-go-round? A rotary rocket is like a mix of these two things. Let me explain.

Do you know what a rocket is? It's a big, long thing that goes up into space with lots of engines and fuel to make it fly. But rockets are very expensive and can only be used once. So, people started to think of better ways to make rockets that are cheaper and can be reused.

That's where the rotary rocket comes in. Instead of going straight up like a regular rocket, a rotary rocket takes off vertically like a helicopter. But it doesn't have blades like a helicopter, it has rotors that spin around really fast. These rotors are like wings that help the rocket lift off the ground.

The rotary rocket also has a special engine that can switch from burning fuel to burning air. This is called a rocket-based, combined-cycle engine. It is very efficient and can make the rocket go really fast.

But the most important thing about a rotary rocket is that it can land just like a helicopter. This makes it easy to reuse and saves a lot of money.

So, in summary, a rotary rocket is a special kind of rocket that takes off like a helicopter and has spinning rotors instead of blades. It also has a very efficient engine and can land like a helicopter, making it cheaper and easier to reuse.