# Why is that max-Q doesn't occur in transonic regime? Tags: rockets, mission-design - Score: 8 - Views: 1607 - Answers: 3 - Answered: yes - Asked by: Vasanth C (1161 rep) - Asked: 2019-02-25 - Edited: 2019-02-25 - Site: space ## Question Is there any reason why the maximum dynamic pressure should not occur in the transonic regime. It is clear from this answer that the max-Q for various rockets occur outside the transonic region Do the rocket scientists design the launch in a way that the max-Q always occur outside transonic region? ## Answers ### Answer by Tristan (score: 15 [ACCEPTED]) Max-Q is a function of both altitude and velocity. There isn't any reason in particular that it needs to fall at a particular Mach number. It's just the point at which the rate that atmospheric density is falling outpaces the rate at which the square of the velocity is increasing. Nothing more. ### Answer by user12102 (score: 4) Here's a very simple model of a Faux Falcon 9 launched vertically, with no turn towards horizontal. That doesn't matter so much at the altitude at max-Q but the final altitude at MECO is higher than in the videos because it hasn't turned towards horizontal. Ther