For the following, let's assume that a rocket can apply a constant force on itself, and ignoring the fact that it loses mass from its exhaust, it must therefore have a constant acceleration. If the force from the engines is constant, this means that a constant amount of fuel in the rocket is being consumed, and therefore, a constant amount of chemical energy from the propellant(s) is being released. However, the equation for kinetic energy is E = 1/2m(v*v). This means that if velocity changes at a constant rate, the amount of kinetic energy grows exponentially. This forms a conflict; if the chemical energy being released by the fuel is constant, but the kinetic energy that the rocket gains grows exponentially, where is this extra energy coming from as the rocket speeds up?