The Fascinating World of Rockets: A Marvel of Modern Transportation When we think of modes of transportation, images of cars, trains, and airplanes may come to mind. However, there is another, more powerful means of travel that has captured our imagination since its invention in the 20th century - rockets. What are Rockets? Rockets are a type of vehicle that uses engines to propel itself through space by expelling a high-pressure gas in the opposite direction of the desired movement.