boost phase

American  

noun

Rocketry.

1. the portion of the flight of a ballistic missile or spacecraft during which the booster and sustainer engines operate to bring it near or to peak velocity.

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Example Sentences

Indeed, an ICBM's trajectory has three different phases: boost phase, midcourse phase, and terminal phase, all of which typically occur in less than an hour from launch to strike.

From Salon • Mar. 3, 2022

Gen. Dunford said additional measures also are being studied, including using drone aircraft near North Korea capable of shooting down missiles shortly after launch — so-called boost phase intercepts.

From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2017

Since the probe, as described, is far too small to contain motors, reaction mass, and gyroscopes there will be no room for even the slightest degree of error during the boost phase.

From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2016

During the boost phase, when the rocket motor is firing, it is locked into position to secure the tail booms during flight.

From Scientific American • Jul. 28, 2015

The experiment marked both the first time a laser weapon has destroyed a ballistic missile and the first time any system has accomplished it in the missile's boost phase of flight.

From Reuters • Feb. 13, 2010