// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Mass Ratio
Mass ratio compares the total weight of a rocket at launch to its weight after all its fuel is burned and parts are jettisoned. It's a key indicator of how much payload a rocket can carry.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Mass ratio (MR) is a critical performance metric in rocketry, defined as the ratio of a rocket's initial total mass (wet mass) to its final mass after propellant expenditure and staging (dry mass), directly influencing delta-v capability.
SYNONYMS & ALIASES
- rocket mass ratio
- initial-to-final mass ratio
- wet/dry mass ratio
USAGE NOTE
A higher mass ratio generally indicates a more efficient rocket design, capable of achieving greater velocities.