Re: Getting into orbit

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:

<mikejenningz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1176465413.553096.81790@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

getting into orbit.
I heard the there's an advantage for a rocket to take off near the
equator as the earth is spinning faster there. Why is this, as surely
the earth's rotation does not affect a rocket orbiting above the
earth? When orbiting the earth your lateral movement must be able
to balance the pull of the earths gravity, so does the earths rotation
matter?


Consider this. You need to be going at about 25,000 mph (relative to the center of the Earth) to orbit the Earth at LEO.

Now, this doesn't matter if the Earth is spinning or not.

Now, at the equator, the earth is spinning West->East at about 1,000 MPH.

So, now you only need to accelerate by 24,000 MPH if you launch towards the east.

If you launch to the wet, you need to accelarate by 26,000 MPH.

Has any payload ever been launched into a westward orbit over the equator?
.

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