“Rocket Man”
Single by Elton John from the album Honky Château
B-side	"Susie (Dramas)"
Released	April 17, 1972
Genre	Soft Rock
Label	MCA (US/Canada) DJM Records
Writer(s)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Elton John singles chronology
"Tiny Dancer" (1972) Rocket Man (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972)

"Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" is a song composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and popularized by John. It is loosely based on the short story "The Rocket Man" in Ray Bradbury's book The Illustrated Man, and echoes the theme of David Bowie's 1969 song, "Space Oddity". Rocket Man first appeared on John's 1972 album Honky Château and became a hit single and popular album track, rising to #2 in the UK and #6 in the US. As Taupin once noted, "It became very popular among the listeners."

The lyrics in the song, written by John's longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, describe a Mars-bound astronaut's mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job. Musically, the song is a highly arranged pop ballad anchored by John's piano, with atmospheric texture added by synthesizer and processed slide guitar.

"Rocket Man" was ranked #242 in the 2004 List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Another "Rocket Man" song (also based on Bradbury's short story) was released by the musical group Pearls Before Swine on their 1970 album The Use of Ashes. In an interview in Billboard magazine, Taupin acknowledged that the original Pearls Before Swine song, written by Tom Rapp, had been a direct inspiration for his own lyrics.