Rocket Town Rocket Town is a town north of Nibelheim in " Final Fantasy VII " built around the launch site of the Shinra No . 26 rocket , part of Shinra Electric Power Company ' s space program . Cid Highwind lives and works here . The town also features in " Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII - " prequel . Story . Several years ago the place was bustling with scientists due to the world ' s first rocket launch to outer space on the rocket Shinra No . 26 . After Shera , one of the engineers working on the rocket , noticed a leak in one of the oxygen tanks , she stayed behind to fix it while the rocket was about to launch . This forced Cid to abort the launch , crashing and damaging the rocket . Shinra abandoned the space project and Cid would blame the failure of his dreams on Shera and so treats her poorly . The scientists and mechanics on the project established a settlement nearby , their determination and hopes of the project undeterred for its revival , and chose Cid as the town ' s representative . Episode 15 of " Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII - " claims AVALANCHE sabotaged the rocket ' s engines and reveals Rufus Shinra , the vice president of Shinra , was the one who recommended the Space Program ' s cancellation , with the support of the entire Shinra Executive Staff . Years later , Cloud Strife and his party come to Rocket Town in search of Sephiroth . They meet with Cid and learn Rufus Shinra , now president of the company , has come to Rocket Town . This fills Cid with hope the space program will be restarted , but Rufus only wants Cid ' s airplane , the Tiny Bronco . Cid betrays Shinra and fights his boss Palmer along with Cloud and the party . They use the Tiny Bronco to escape , but it is damaged , and after crashing in the sea can only be used as a crude boat . Once Sephiroth has unleashed the Meteor onto the Planet the party fights with Shinra over the Huge Materia Shinra plans to launch with Cid ' s rocket into space , right into the Meteor in hopes of destroying it . Cloud and his party desire the Huge Materia to fight Sephiroth and they fight through the Turk Rude and enter the rocket ' s control room . Palmer gleefully tells them over radio the rocket is sent to automatic launch , and launches the party into outer space with the rocket . The party evacuates on an escape pod and Shinra No . 26 crashes into Meteor and creates a blinding explosion , but the Meteor is unaffected . Rocket Town is left without its landmark . Locations . Rocket Town is located to the North - West on Gaia ' s Western continent . Couple ' s House . The couple of people who live at the house talk of being bored and desiring excitement . The residents are absent from the house and found at the base of the rocket for the Huge Materia event in Part 2 to see the excitement . After this event they return to their previous positions , and the woman comments on how he has bored now the excitement is over , and the man comments on how the launch was not too exciting . Comedian ' s House . The person living here claims its his job to make people over the world laugh . During the Huge Materia quest , if Cid is in the party he makes puns that hint at the goings on at the rocket including Rude ' s presence , Rufus ' s gathering of mechanics , and launching the rocket when loaded with Materia . The party do not enjoy the puns , and Cid kicks the " comedian " during this scene . In the kitchen at the lower part of the house is a chest with a Power Source item . Shanghai Inn . Shanghai Inn is a two floor inn and bar . The inn is referred to as " Shanghai Inn " in the menu and dialogue , though the sign at the bar counter reads " Shanhai - tei " in capital English characters , the romanization of the Japanese . The Japanese name is written on a hanging sign outside the inn , which also has " Inn " written on in English . Rooms . Rocket Launching Pad . This area becomes completely inaccessible after the launch . Access Platform . The access platform is a path that leads to the door of the Shinra No . 26 . The door is locked previous to talking to Cid , and at all times between the Northern Cave visit in Part 2 and the Huge Materia event . The door leads into one of the rocket ' s hallways . The ladder down from the access platform leads down the base of the rocket ' s launching pad . Rude and two of his soldiers are fought on the platform during the Huge Materia event . Items found . First visit : Second visit : Creation and development . Yuusuke Naora , the art director for " Final Fantasy VII " , has commented on working on the game thusly : For example , there is a Thompson Sub - machine Gun and a lot of AK - 47 / Kalashnikov in the weapon shop . Another AK - 47 is found in Cid ' s house . Musical themes . The background music that plays in Rocket Town is " The Oppressed " . When visited on disc 2 after Meteor is summoned , " On The Edge of Despair " plays .