booster

A booster, or booster rocket, is a type of rocket that provides additional thrust to help a launch vehicle overcome Earth's gravity and atmosphere. Boosters are typically attached to the first stage of a launch vehicle and are jettisoned once their fuel is exhausted, lightening the vehicle for subsequent stages.12345

These rockets are crucial for lifting heavy payloads, such as satellites or spacecraft, into orbit. They can be either solid-propellant motors or liquid-propellant engines, with solid boosters often used for their simplicity and high thrust at liftoff. The space shuttle, for example, utilized large solid rocket boosters that were recovered and reused. The development of boosters has been integral to advancements in space exploration and military applications.267489