it cannot hit any resistance as it exits the rocket nozzle.
This is your fundamental errors. U don't resistance to act on. Propulsion system simply changes the momentum of a mass of fluid and the ship "receives" the same change of momentum.
And this is not only true for rockets but for all propulsion system involving a fluid. Jet engines, propeller engine, boat engine and water jets all work on this principle. They just need a mass to accelerate
They need to push against mass to accelerate. No errors on my part, just lies on the part you adhere to and parrot.
The mass of the fluid is pushing against the mass of the rocket. Where's the problem?
The problem is, it's only pushing against the mass of the container holding it inside the rocket; for instance: in a sealed unit the gas is compressed and pushing equally on all walls of the container.
Once that container is opened, it's a simple case of "last man out stinks" for those compressed gas molecules.
If those gas molecules are heading out of that rocket container into atmosphere then a free expansion cannot be done.
A expansion can be done and the difference is huge.
The reason why it cannot freely expand in an atmosphere is because that atmosphere has it's own compressed molecules of matter that creates a barrier against the exiting "expanding" (not freely) gas and this is what moves the rocket.
Take that fictional space rocket into fictional space and the NEAR vacuum we are told it is, then that rocket would be exiting it's gas into this near zero vacuum, meaning it actually would be able to freely expand as such. Not quite perfect but close enough as to be able to expend all of that massively expanded gas to that supposed near vacuum, rendering it a pointless waste of time.
Let's look at it very simply.
Imagine a floating cardboard box in space, as we are told space is.
Imagine that cardboard box having a person in that is cramped inside with both ends closed exactly the same.
The person inside has to now try and move that box in one direction so that the person kicks their feet to push the box lid open but in order to do so, he has to use his head as LEVERAGE in order to exert EQUAL pressure on both ends of that box. The result would be both ends open up, leaving the person stretched out with head and feet equally poking out of the box.
The only work done is the work of cancelling out the effort to open the box. The box stays put.
But a rocket in space only exits it's fuel from one end against the barrier inside, I hear you say.
Ok, let's look at that as well.
Picture the cardboard box, only this time one end is sealed shut and can't be opened and the other end is open.
Inside that box is the same person crouched up and now that person needs to push that box one way.
The person pushes his feet out of the box but realises that there's no leverage to push against. No resistance at all as it's feet into a vacuum.
That means he can't use his head to push the box the other way because to do this he would need that foot leverage.
End result means his feet stick out and he's stretched out with the box and him staying put.
Ok so what about if he grips the sides of that box with his arms whilst he pushes his feet out?
All he could do is to bulge the box at the sides, EQUALLY with no end product except wasted work of his own energy cancelling itself out on either side of his body against any side of that box.
Rockets do not work in space, can't anyone see why?