- an RR is characterized by a spurted, accelerated beginning, which gives it its name. It looks like something taking off, like being shot; shot away from its start. It's a spurting beginning, and then its other characteristic is a curled end. (SH Spec 266, 6305C21)
- it takes off. It always goes to the right. It takes off with a very fast spurt and does a rapid decay. Like a bullet fired into water. It's very fast. It looks like its got all of its motive power from its first instance of impulse with no additional motive power being imparted to it by anything. It's kicked off and it has no further kick so it rapidly dies out. (SH Spec 224, 6212C13)
- is the read of the goal or the rock itself. (HCOB 6 Dec 62)
- called a rocket read because it takes off like a rocket and slows down. (SH Spec 202A, 6210C23)