# Why don't more rockets/missiles use aerospikes like the Tridents?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-rockets-missiles-use-aerospikes-like-the-tridents/800910>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-rockets-missiles-use-aerospikes-like-the-tridents/800910 "2017-11-06T19:44:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-rockets-missiles-use-aerospikes-like-the-tridents/800910/1 "2017-11-06T19:44:18Z")

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Paging all missile experts!

So the Trident missiles uses an extendable spike that comes out of the nosecone to reduce drag. This has been around since the 70s. Why don’t many rockets/missiles use this?

This Wikipedia page list a few, but the list is very short. [Drag-reducing aerospike - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag-reducing_aerospike)

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-rockets-missiles-use-aerospikes-like-the-tridents/800910/2 "2017-11-06T21:18:23Z")

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Most rockets and missiles have fixed pointy nose cones. I think the Trident has an extendable nose spike instead of a fixed one because it needs to fit inside a very limited storage space (submarine).

The Space Shuttle may appear to be an exception, but that’s because the nose of the orbiter isn’t the front end of the rocket stack. The end of the External tank is further forward, and [that has a nose cone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank#/media/File:Externaltank.jpg). When the orbiter is by itself, there’s no reason to try to minimize drag because it’s either in space or reentering the atmosphere and trying to slow down.

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**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-more-rockets-missiles-use-aerospikes-like-the-tridents/800910/3 "2017-11-07T21:37:46Z")

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> [@scr4](#):
>
> Most rockets and missiles have fixed pointy nose cones. I think the Trident has an extendable nose spike instead of a fixed one because it needs to fit inside a very limited storage space (submarine).
> 
> The Space Shuttle may appear to be an exception, but that’s because the nose of the orbiter isn’t the front end of the rocket stack. The end of the External tank is further forward, and [that has a nose cone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank#/media/File:Externaltank.jpg). When the orbiter is by itself, there’s no reason to try to minimize drag because it’s either in space or reentering the atmosphere and trying to slow down.

Interesting. Because of the blunt nose.

I was hoping **Stranger On A Train** could chime in as well. Apparently he doesn’t take PMs.