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Q:

How does a rocket speed up and slow down in space?

A:

On Earth, air creates drag to slow you down, but there is no air in space, so you don't get drag at all.

 

This is great when you want to speed up: use a thruster, point yourself in the right direction, and push using a rocket engine. You will keep that velocity until you want to brake. Then you have to apply the opposite force, so you need to fire thrusters in the other direction.

 

 

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