there are four major components to any full scale rocket; the structural system or

frame, the payload system, the guidance system, and the propulsion system.
The guidance system of a rocket includes very sophisticated sensors, on-board
computers, radars, and communication equipment. The guidance system has
two main roles during the launch of a rocket; to provide stability for the rocket,
and to control the rocket during maneuvers.

The motion of any object in flight is a combination of the translation of the center
of gravity and the rotation of the object about its center of gravity. Many
different methods have been developed to control rockets in flight. All of the
control methods produce a torque about the rocket's center of gravity which
causes the rocket to rotate in flight. Through an understanding of
the forces acting on the rocket and the resulting motion, the rocket guidance
system can be programmed to intercept targets, or to fly into orbit.

A stable rocket is one which naturally returns to its flight configuration when it is
perturbed from that configuration. For simple rockets flying within the
atmosphere, stability is assured if the aerodynamic forces acting through
the center of pressure are kept below the rocket center of gravity. Fins located at
the bottom of the rocket, or weight added to the top of the rocket help to establish
this condition. For complex rockets, or for rockets flying above the atmosphere,
stability can be provided by the guidance system, using the same methods
employed for maneuvers.

On this slide, we show a picture of a Atlas rocket at the left and a picture of the
Space Shuttle at the right. The Atlas rocket was developed in the late 1950's and
used small vernier rockets on the sides of the missile to provide maneuvering
and balance. The Space Shuttle was designed in the late 1970's and employed
the more modern gimbaling of the main engines to provide for control during
launch.