What is "apogee" in rocketry?

Apogee refers to the highest point in the trajectory of a rocket during its flight. At apogee, the rocket reaches its maximum altitude before beginning its descent back to the ground. This point is significant in rocketry as it marks the transition from the ascent phase to the descent phase, and it is influenced by various factors such as thrust, drag, and the rocket's overall design. Understanding apogee is essential for mission planning, as it helps determine how high the rocket can go and informs the calculations for recovery or subsequent phases of the flight.