A rocket is a vehicle that flies through space. It is different from airplanes and helicopters because it can fly much higher and faster. Rockets have powerful engines that can push them up high into the sky. They also have fuel that helps them move even faster. Rockets are used to explore space because they can take people and other equipment very far and into places that we cannot reach with airplanes or helicopters. Without rockets, it would be impossible to explore outer space.