Rockets need to steer, but their nozzles point straight down. A gimbal solves the problem by mounting the engine on a pivoted joint, allowing the whole thrust chamber to tilt a few degrees in any direction. Tilt the engine and the thrust vector shifts, turning the vehicle.

Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and modern launchers all use gimballed engines. The mechanism must handle extreme temperatures, vibration, and thrust loads while moving precisely on command.

Other gimbal uses

• Gyroscopes mounted in gimbals for attitude sensing
• Camera stabilizers for handheld and aerial filming
• Satellite antennas that track a target
• Telescope mounts that follow celestial objects

The common thread is isolation of motion. A gimbal lets one part rotate freely while the rest of the assembly stays fixed.