So rocket is fueled, have hit "Take off" and . . . it won't. Not for sols and sols and sols. Nothing. Just says "Preparing for takeoff." But it never does. What gives?

If it's a game, please mention which game. If it's a real rocket, please mention the name and model.

I didn't know Kim Jong Un has a GOG account.

OH! He shoots, he scores!

Try holding a lit match under the exhaust.

I'm assuming you;re trying to play Kerbal:

wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Tutorial:_Walkthrough_for_Ye_Compleat_Beginner

See what step you;re missing.

If that doesn't help, head over to youtube and watch one of the thousand videos on Kerbal.

Good luck. (edit: I think you;re going to need it.) Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park and Mythbusters did that already. Gotta remember he's got all those XBox and old PCs that he tried to make a supercomputer out of about a decade ago. Gotta use them for something.

After clicking the "Take Off" button, you then have to click the "Eh" button. You'll know the launch was successful when the game responds with "Right on".

Try asking Gary Sinise. He's a genius at space travel! Though, don't leave him behind this time.

IGNITION!

Are you Elon Musk?

Just stuff the exhaust of your DeSoto with matchheads. That should be enough to take you to the moon easily...

Shift will increase fuel flow. Ctrl will decrease it.

You may just have your fuel down.

That said, you may have put something between the fuel and engine to prevent fuel flow. Or you may have no engine at all. Or no cockpit.