Well I'm no rocket scientist, but...Apparently, rockets are largely propellant. And you can have liquid or solid propellant. According to a VideoJug video I just viewed, usually liquid-propelled rockets, for instance, mix liquid oxygen with gas or kerosene, and then watch out: the violent expansion of the gases that results creates massive heat and thrust that shoots into the dome chambers of the rocket (the suction-cup-shaped thingies at the bottom of the rocket), and it's to the moon, Alice!

Weight reduction, heat endurance...those probably figure in too, but VideoJug focused in on the fuel aspect. If you don't think VideoJug is the #1 source for science stuff, you might go to the guys over at NASA...they have a cool interactive Rocket 101 presentation: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/RocketScience101/RocketScience101.html
Source(s):
http://www.videosift.com/video/Rocket-Science-101-How-a-Rocket-Works

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