[ELI5] Why do rockets have to go around in orbit and do a bunch of squiggly maneuvers to get to the moon? Why cant they just go in a straight line?

Question

And by straight, i mean, just… Point the nose of the rocket towards the moon and keep steering till you get there….

In: Physics

Answer 1

If you point at the Moon and go, you will miss the Moon, because by the time you complete the journey, the Moon will have moved.

You have to aim for where the Moon will be at the time you reach its orbital distance.