Maximum dynamic pressure is the moment in a launch trajectory where the combination of the vehicle's increasing velocity and the decreasing density of the atmosphere creates the greatest physical load on the airframe. Launch vehicles typically throttle down their engines as they approach this point to prevent structural damage, then throttle back up once they reach thinner air.
Heard on the job
Flight dynamics confirms we have passed max Q and the engines are throttling back up to full thrust.
Insider tip
Max Q usually occurs in the lower atmosphere, typically between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, depending on the rocket's acceleration profile.
Also heard as
- maximum dynamic pressure