How Do You Measure the Thrust of a Rocket Engine?

Description: Rockets that launch into space have to be able to push a lot of weight. They have to overcome the relentless pull of gravity while carrying themselves and their payloads into orbit or beyond. Researchers who design rocket engines need to be able to test them, without actually launching the rockets, to make sure that they are producing enough thrust to accomplish their task. Engineers use a special kind of scale called a load cell, which is somewhat like the bathroom scale you have at home, to measure the force exerted by the rocket — enough to lift tens of thousands of kilograms.