What is the difference between a rocket and a spaceship?

A rocket is primarily a vehicle that launches payloads—such as satellites or spaceships—into space using high-speed propulsion from engines burning fuel and oxidizers. Once its job is done, it often detaches and falls back to Earth or burns up. A spaceship, on the other hand, is designed to operate in space after launch. It may carry astronauts, instruments, or cargo and includes life-support systems and navigation controls. In short, the rocket provides the initial thrust to escape Earth’s gravity, while the spaceship is the functional vehicle that continues operating in the vacuum of space, conducting missions such as orbiting planets or docking with space stations.