Most launch accidents happen due to the rapid expenditures of energy and the high aerodynamic loads. If you wait to accelerate until you are 10 miles high, the loads would be much lower. Why does a rocket have to use its fuel up so quickly.
2007-05-02 14:14:55 · 7 answers · asked by Zefram 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It needs the immense burst of power to escape Earth's gravitational pull. There is a certain amount of energy needed to exit the atmosphere. Plus, 10 miles high is achieved very quickly after launch.
2007-05-02 14:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by nintendogamer91 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rocket has to burn fuel fighting against gravity from the time it lifts off until it gets into orbit. So the faster it reaches orbit, the less fuel it wastes fighting gravity, and the more useful payload it can carry for a given size.
The design of the rocket has to be a compromise between fastest possible launch and the stresses created by that launch. For example, you don't want to go too fast in the low atmosphere because you then waste a lot of fuel fighting drag, and create a lot of aerodynamic stress which requires a stronger structure in the rocket to survive. Similarly, to launch faster you need more powerful engines, which will be heavier.
The end result is that the optimal launch time to put the largest payload into orbit is usually somewhere around ten minutes.
2007-05-02 21:25:37 · answer #2 · answered by Mark G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They go so fast to save fuel. Rockets are more efficient the faster they go, just the opposite of cars and planes. Think of it this way. If the rocket just hovered, the fuel might last 3 or 4 times as longer, but the rocket would never get anywhere. The longer the rocket takes to get up to orbital speed, the longer it has to use up some of its fuel just to fight gravity.
2007-05-02 21:33:17 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think about shooting an arrow. The faster it travels the more distance it can go before gravity pulls it to the ground. If the goal is to overcome gravity entirely by reaching space you have to travel a long distance in a short period of time or gravity will overcome thrust. Since rockets are not sent into space by the action of stored energy in a bow, the stored energy in the rocket fuel must quickly overcome gravity to get the rocket of the ground and rapidly accelerate the rocket to a speed that will allow it to escape the gravitational pull of the earth, about 17,000 MPH for a low orbit and 24,200 to escape the full gravity pull.
2007-05-02 21:28:31 · answer #4 · answered by Richard W 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ill make it short,
The longer the wait, more use of fuel.
Also the closer you are in space, the more useless fuel and energy get. Thus making the 10minutes no better than the 9.
Also think about it.. you dont think Nasa would have already thought about this? Oviously they made it 9min for a good reason and thought it through.
2007-05-02 21:35:05 · answer #5 · answered by 99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would waste too much fuel with a long slow burn. Just think of it going very slowly and just hovering. Lot's of fuel for no speed
2007-05-02 21:20:32 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
More time for something to go wrong, it's just easier to go faster, if that makes sense.
2007-05-02 21:26:15 · answer #7 · answered by The Great Hobo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋