What are the stages in launching a rocket into space?

Question

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Answer 1

The first step is getting most of the way out of the gravity well, which is the blasting you see on TV when it launches. Then you dump the empty tanks to reduce weight and turn the path so you build speed and altitude to orbit, perhaps dumping additional tanks. That is shuttle pattern. With a tubular multistage rocket, at each stage the tanks and engines are both dropped and the next stage ignited. Usually, the tanks and engines are destroyed in falling because the weight of parachutes isn't worth added fuel required because of the damage done in a parachute landing. The solid state rocket boosters on the shuttle are recovered because they are rebuilt in sections. The main tank barely holds its shape (pressure of fuel inside helps) and is lost.
As the rocket reaches altitude, all of the remaining thrust is used to shape the orbit. In some cases the first orbit is oval so it swings way out and would normally came back low but after coasting to the high end the engines are fired again to round the orbit into a high orbit without as much fuel use.