Why does footage of rocket launches by space agencies look so slow?

Question

You see video of rockets with munitions in them like surface -to-air and plane mounted rockets and they seem to move so quick. Why do these massive rockets seem to move slow? Is it payload? Do they speed up as they reach the stratosphere?

In: 16

Answer 1

Rockets have a lower thrust-to-weight ratio than missiles do so it takes longer for them to accelerate. Part of it is just because they’re much bigger than missiles but their engines are not as bigger comparatively, and another part of it is because it’s intentional: Rockets have sensitive payloads (like people) that can’t handle the extreme g-forces of rapid accelerate that missiles experience.