While it is true that gravity and acceleration can be equivalent in certain contexts, it is important to clarify the specific scenario you're referring to. In the context of a rocket launching from Earth, there are several forces involved.
When a rocket lifts off, it experiences a force known as thrust, which is produced by the combustion of rocket propellant. This thrust force is generated by expelling high-speed gases in the opposite direction of the desired motion. According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, as the rocket expels gases downward, it experiences an upward force of equal magnitude that propels it away from Earth.
While the rocket is near the Earth's surface, it also experiences the force of gravity, which acts to pull it downward. However, the thrust force produced by the rocket's engines is designed to be greater than the force of gravity, allowing the rocket to overcome Earth's gravitational pull and ascend into space.
Once the rocket reaches space, where gravitational forces become weaker, the primary force that keeps it in orbit (if it is in orbit around a celestial body) is centripetal force. Centripetal force is the force that acts towards the center of the circular path and keeps an object moving in a curved trajectory. In the case of an orbiting rocket, the force of gravity provides the necessary centripetal force, constantly pulling the rocket towards the center of its orbit.
In summary, the force that pushes a rocket away from Earth is the thrust generated by its engines, which allows it to overcome the force of gravity and ascend into space. Once in space, the force of gravity acts as a centripetal force to keep the rocket in its orbital path.