View Full Version : school me, rocket vs missile - difference?
So what's the difference between rocket and missile? Rocket launcher and missile launcher?
Flatline
08-21-2012, 00:12
In the military sense a rocket is projectile that may carry a pay load and has some form of thrust engine but does not have any navigation or ability to change it's path inflight, the difference is that a missile can change it's flight path though some type of navigation equipment (radar, gps, laser guidance...etc).
The terminology changes if you want to talk about engineering.
Typically rocket launchers are going to aim the rocket and trigger the engine. Some missile launchers will have guidance equipment (typically shoulder fired are like this) some have a remote guidance system (more typical of other platforms).
In the military sense a rocket is projectile that may carry a pay load and has some form of thrust engine but does not have any navigation or ability to change it's path inflight, the difference is that a missile can change it's flight path though some type of navigation equipment (radar, gps, laser guidance...etc).
The terminology changes if you want to talk about engineering.
Typically rocket launchers are going to aim the rocket and trigger the engine. Some missile launchers will have guidance equipment (typically shoulder fired are like this) some have a remote guidance system (more typical of other platforms).
Thank you, now it makes sense... More or less.. [Coffee]
clublights
08-21-2012, 02:37
yeah flatline hit it on the nose...
Rockets are generally "free flight"
Missiles are guided.
nisils14
08-21-2012, 02:38
Rocket is a type of propulsion, where as a missile is an object being thrown. A bullet out of a firearm would be considered a missile, however if you could strap a booster pack on it then it would be a rocket. Cruise missiles use jet engines but usually ICBMs are rocket engine propelled. All rockets are missiles but not all missiles are rockets.
Flatline
08-21-2012, 02:47
Rocket is a type of propulsion, where as a missile is an object being thrown. A bullet out of a firearm would be considered a missile, however if you could strap a booster pack on it then it would be a rocket. Cruise missiles use jet engines but usually ICBMs are rocket engine propelled. All rockets are missiles but not all missiles are rockets.
Just to be clear, that is the physics/engineering definition, which does not happen to be the same as the military definition.
nisils14
08-21-2012, 03:06
Tomato, Tamahto. I find the engineering definition to be easier to explain as military terminology can get confusing to understand at times. [Tooth]
As an example for military ones.
A RPG/LAW/AT4 would be rockets. They are aimed fired and if lucky actually hit what you aimed at. (With the lack of flight guidance etc, if something throws it off, nothing to get it back on course.)
A Javelin/Stinger are missiles, they can lock and track heat signatures. The Javelin with it's top down attack mode is guided to not just go straight at a target but navigate to come in from the top. Not 100% sure what you would consider a TOW, I'd say Missile, but it's just the funny duck as it's controlled by a remote wire. (Once it breaks free at the end of the cord if it goes long I suppose it then becomes a rocket aha.)
------
From the physics side you could think of rockets as being powered flight, so Estes rockets and such. A medieval sling and stone, javelins, throwing axes, whatever would be a "missile".
So was it not politically correct for NASA to call their rockets a missile? They are guided afterall.
Great-Kazoo
08-21-2012, 08:05
So was it not politically correct for NASA to call their rockets a missile? They are guided afterall.
That is the capsule / shuttle area that is guided. the rest is merely a booster to get the "Payload" in to orbit.
Come on man it's not rocket science!
rocket = dumb (no guidance systems )
missile = smart (guidance system )
Scanker19
08-21-2012, 08:12
Sometimes the Iraqis will forget to put the warhead on a rocket. Kiowa missiles have them on already.
Circuits
08-21-2012, 09:51
Missile is actually military nomenclature for a (guided) missile. .mil has other names for all the unguided kinds, so the (guided) part usually gets dropped.
Not all missiles are rockets, like cruise missiles, which use jet engines and not rockets for propulsion.
Smart bombs are unpowered guided missiles, but .mil terminology for those is guided bomb or smart bomb, etc.
You guys still make it a little difficult... A missle, is an object that moves through the air at a target. The way in which it gets moving through the air has to be on purpose (dropped, thrown, propelled). A rocket, is a motor, usually defined by a cylindrical projectile that is propelled by the combustion of its contents. Basically, a rocket is just the propellent for something. My uncle worked on the Patriot Missle, which he called a rocket propelled missle. Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to. But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket.
You guys still make it a little difficult... A missle, is an object that moves through the air at a target. The way in which it gets moving through the air has to be on purpose (dropped, thrown, propelled). A rocket, is a motor, usually defined by a cylindrical projectile that is propelled by the combustion of its contents. Basically, a rocket is just the propellent for something. My uncle worked on the Patriot Missle, which he called a rocket propelled missle. Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to. But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket.
Not in .mil/EOD/UXO circles. When related to ordnance, missile can change direction in flight whereas a rocket cannot. They are both, by your definition a missle but when talking about ordnance, it is a bit more specific than just describing a generic item.
A Javelin/Stinger are missiles, they can lock and track heat signatures. The Javelin with it's top down attack mode is guided to not just go straight at a target but navigate to come in from the top. Not 100% sure what you would consider a TOW, I'd say Missile, but it's just the funny duck as it's controlled by a remote wire. (Once it breaks free at the end of the cord if it goes long I suppose it then becomes a rocket aha.)
TOW is a missile. When you break the wire, it becomes a randomly directed artillery round that will eventually impact somewhere, but almost certainly not where you'd hoped. That said, you can break the wire at almost any distance if you jerk the tube, hit any kind of obstructions, water, etc.
Oddly enough, it can happen that you ground the missile several hundred meters out, yet it still impacts the target. Or, it might pop out of the tube and land on your grill, staring at you.
Wow.
Missiles are guided, or controlled after launch and still use a rocket motor. A bullet is not a missile nor a rocket, it is a projectile. Both missiles and rockets both use on-board fuel and oxidizer to provide thurst after initial launch which may or may not be due to on-board components. A jet engine uses an on board fuel, but an atmospheric oxidizer...from an actual engineer...
Not in .mil/EOD/UXO circles. When related to ordnance, missile can change direction in flight whereas a rocket cannot. They are both, by your definition a missle but when talking about ordnance, it is a bit more specific than just describing a generic item.
This again is a military definition, and also, kinda outdated.
Wow.
Missiles are guided, or controlled after launch and still use a rocket motor. A bullet is not a missile nor a rocket, it is a projectile. Both missiles and rockets both use on-board fuel and oxidizer to provide thurst after initial launch which may or may not be due to on-board components. A jet engine uses an on board fuel, but an atmospheric oxidizer...from an actual engineer...
I don't know if you knew this, but there are guided rockets. Look them up. Like I said, the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military or anything else that everyone thinks over rules the normal world definitions.
Sharpienads
08-21-2012, 19:01
All of you guys are wrong.
[Tooth]
One of you should buy my stinger missile case then you could feel cool about your knowledge![Tooth]
A missile is self propelled, and guided with 4 components: targeting/guidance, flight system, engine, and warhead. Before guidance systems they were simply "thrown objects".
The word is derived from the Latin meaning: "to send"
a powered, unguided munition in the military is a "rocket".
munitions fired from a gun are "projectiles", if they explode, they are shell or mortar bombs. if they are not fired from a gun, they are "bombs" and can either be guided or unguided (smart vs. dumb).
If they are powered through the water, they are torpedoes. They are much like bombs and can be guided or unguided.
This again is a military definition, and also, kinda outdated.
Please elaborate how the military definitions of military items are outdated.
I don't know if you knew this, but there are guided rockets. Look them up. Like I said, the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military or anything else that everyone thinks over rules the normal world definitions.
1 word....CONTEXT. The definition you use depends on what item you are talking about and how it is being used. It's not that hard of a concept.
easy guys we are just talking about the definition of rockets vs. missiles, we aren't measuring our rockets and missiles against each other[ROFL1]
easy guys we are just talking about the definition of rockets vs. missiles, we aren't measuring our rockets and missiles against each other[ROFL1]
Sorry, I forgot to put a smiley face...
ChadAmberg
08-21-2012, 20:40
My great uncle's death record from Korea: Died as result of missile wound received in action.
Holger Danske
08-21-2012, 22:06
TOW is a missile. When you break the wire, it becomes a randomly directed artillery round that will eventually impact somewhere, but almost certainly not where you'd hoped. That said, you can break the wire at almost any distance if you jerk the tube, hit any kind of obstructions, water, etc.
Oddly enough, it can happen that you ground the missile several hundred meters out, yet it still impacts the target. Or, it might pop out of the tube and land on your grill, staring at you.
TOW stands for Tube launched Optically tracked command link Wire guide missile. I've shot a few in my days. Nothing like launching one of those of a tripod with the missile tube 6 inches from your shoulder. Just a bit of obscure trivia, but my platoon sergeant was the one who named the Javelin.
1 word....CONTEXT. The definition you use depends on what item you are talking about and how it is being used. It's not that hard of a concept.
Paying attention to what one originally said, is not that hard of a concept either. In my first post I said " Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to." I then went on to point out how the definitions I used, were the actual definitions for rocket, and missle. Did I clear this up for you so there are no misunderstandings?
Flatline
08-21-2012, 22:32
This again is a military definition, and also, kinda outdated.
I don't know if you knew this, but there are guided rockets. Look them up. Like I said, the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military or anything else that everyone thinks over rules the normal world definitions.
Hey there buddy, when your talking about military systems the military definitions are VERY important.
Is your 1911 a gun in the navy? (hint: no)
Using and understand the situationally appropriate terminology is very important.
Or maybe I'll be like you, and the next topic where someone complains about a computer virus, I'll troll about how they cannot be called viruses because the biology definition means that a computer virus is not a virus because it is not alive but rather a digital creation of code.
ChunkyMonkey
08-21-2012, 22:34
Rocket is what the Hizzie shooting at the Israel. Missile is what the Israeli shooting back at them.
Hey there buddy, when your talking about military systems the military definitions are VERY important.
Or maybe I'll be like you...
You're not going to be like me, that would require reading and comprehension of what you just read. Now, before you two got your shit all up in a wod, look at what I said once more, here are a few quotes: "Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to.", "the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military", and the last quote, "But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket." < Which means simply that if you look up what missle and rocket mean, you will see what I put down. Again, I said, they are not the military definitions, oh and I also said that terms and definitions all depend on who you talk to, read damnit. [Bang]
You're not going to be like me, that would require reading and comprehension of what you just read. Now, before you two got your shit all up in a wod, look at what I said once more, here are a few quotes: "Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to.", "the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military", and the last quote, "But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket." < Which means simply that if you look up what missle and rocket mean, you will see what I put down. Again, I said, they are not the military definitions, oh and I also said that terms and definitions all depend on who you talk to, read damnit. [Bang]
Oh....I get it now. The military isn't real. So an M16 must not be an "M16" since that's not a "real" definition. It must be an evil, baby killing, portable death machine that must be removed from existence since that is what some "real" (non-military) people called it in the 60's. What do you call your ARs then? What is a "real" definition of them (if you quote wikipedia, you will lose all credibility here)?
Perhaps you should read where I prefaced my definitions by stating "in .mil/EOD/UXO circles...." since reading is so uncommon here. But hey, what do I know; being prior military, I'm not "real" either.
Flatline
08-22-2012, 00:21
You're not going to be like me, that would require reading and comprehension of what you just read. Now, before you two got your shit all up in a wod, look at what I said once more, here are a few quotes: "Terms and definitions, all depend on who you talk to.", "the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions, not military", and the last quote, "But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket." < Which means simply that if you look up what missle and rocket mean, you will see what I put down. Again, I said, they are not the military definitions, oh and I also said that terms and definitions all depend on who you talk to, read damnit. [Bang]
You clearly don't get it. The military is real and it's terms are valid within the context. I understand that you feel that if you search google that it will instantly give you an answer, but I assure you that there is more do to become truly educated in a given matter.
Further, my response is not about any previous post, it is about your ignorance in stating that the military definitions are not the real definitions. They are real and they are valid within their context.
FYI: I don't want to be like you, in case you can't tell I was being sarcastic.
nisils14
08-22-2012, 02:03
Ya'll just too fucking serious. You guys need a cat in your life. Here.
http://images.wikia.com/callofduty/images/4/4a/Serious_cat.jpg
This thread is coming out of the needle. I'd usually say "becoming derailed," but I don't want to be busted on nomenclature.
Troublco
08-22-2012, 02:42
Ya'll just too fucking serious. You guys need a cat in your life. Here.
http://images.wikia.com/callofduty/images/4/4a/Serious_cat.jpg
More than one. One cat is no fun to herd.[ROFL1]
[quote=coloccw;592961]Oh....I get it now. The military isn't real. So an M16 must not be an "M16" since that's not a "real" definition. It must be an evil, baby killing, portable death machine that must be removed from existence since that is what some "real" (non-military) people called it in the 60's. What do you call your ARs then?quote]
I'd argue this point since the M16 is what the military designates a particular configuration of an AR15. Just like an M4 is another AR 15 with different configuration.
Which is why I hate people when they say they own an M4. No... you 99% most likely have an AR 15 with maybe similiar furniture but definately not select fire. Not to say an "M16" isn't real, just that its a very specific nomenclature the mil uses for something. A little different than the mil version of rocket/missile vs an engineer/physics sense.
Aloha_Shooter
08-22-2012, 07:00
Y'know, if you're going to spout crap like ""the definitions that I gave are actual "real" definitions" and "But the above, are the actual definitions of missle, and rocket."then you're going to have to put up with the requests to show your sources. When you're dealing with definitions where context is important, there is no such thing as "the actual" because the real definition depends on the context.
As a military scientist/engineer, I understand both contexts perfectly and use the words correctly (but differently depending on whether I'm talking to scientific brethren or military brethren). Flatline gave a perfect definition and put it in context then you had to get your panties twisted and argue with him which just shows you have as much understanding of the words as BHO has of the 2d and 10th Amendments.
Try discussing the definitions of "satellite" and "payload" sometime and watch the sparks fly between different communities. :D
For the last time (as I see it is hard for a few of you to understand...), I said that the definitions I gave were the "real" as in, dictionary< maybe I should have said dictionary, definitions. I already stated that there might be a difference between what others (military, DOD, whatever) defines them as. I don't know if you didn't know this or not either, but some people don't go by what the military does, or says. Is it that hard to figure out? I'm sorry that your panties are getting all bunched up because I defined the dictionary terms for both rocket, and missle, but get the fuck over it already. You guys sound as ignorant as Obummer sometimes.
Sharpienads
08-22-2012, 09:23
This thread is coming out of the needle. I'd usually say "becoming derailed," but I don't want to be busted on nomenclature.
Technically the thread isn't in the needle. It goes through a hole, called an "eye". And nomenclature is an alphanumeric designation for an object. And if you're still reading this you're about as ridiculous as the pissing match... I mean urinating competition that is going on here.
Everyone step away from the keyboard and chill.
TOW stands for Tube launched Optically tracked command link Wire guide missile. I've shot a few in my days. Nothing like launching one of those of a tripod with the missile tube 6 inches from your shoulder. Just a bit of obscure trivia, but my platoon sergeant was the one who named the Javelin.
Ground (or HMMV mount) is a nice, warm thump. Oddly enough, I much prefer that to firing via M901 - maybe the Bradley is different - because it's like you're firing a 45 in a mailbox which then fills with smoke. A little bit of open air greatly reduces those effects. :)
So since the curved shots in the movie Wanted changed their direction in flight, are they rockets or missiles or "really" still projectiles? Engineering, "real," or military definition or is there a Hollywood definition of them as well in that context??? What does Fox News call them vs CNN vs BBC?
{for those that can't read between the lines....I'm being sarcastic}
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.