Where/when should a rocket be launched?

Question

I have two options--I can launch a rocket in Alaska, or near the equator in South America. Where should I launch it, and during what time of day? I'm thinking the rocket should be launched near the equator, because then I can gain the velocity of the Earth and save fuel. Is this correct logic?

Answer 1

The Earth's tangential velocity does add to the total velocity required to orbit, so launching near the equator does give more vehicle performance. However, that means that your resulting orbit will have a very low inclination to the equator. And that may be very desirable for your particular mission. But if your mission requires a high inclination to the equator, for example, a sun-synchronous orbit, then it is definitely better to launch from as high a latitude as possible. High tangential velocity hurts you in that case, as you must remove all of it, and turn the rocket counter to the Earth's rotation. A sun-synchronous orbit is retrograde and is inclined approximately 98-99 degrees to the equator, depending upon altitude of the orbit. Launch sites in Alaska are being analysed very serioulsy for such missions. There are none there now, and buliding such a site is very expensive. So all sun-synch mission go out of Vandenberg Air Force Base in southern California, right now.
Vehicle perfomance is independent upon time of day of launch. Those missions that do have launch windows, have some requirement that can only be satisfied by launching at certain times of the day, called the launch window. For example, if you had a lunar mission, or a planetary escape mission, then your launch time on any given day would be constrained to a very narrow window. Most Shuttle missions have a window as they generally must mate with the Space Station. Note that does not affect vehicle performance, though.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The rotation of the Earth is used to assist in the gaining of escape speed. The Earth’s rotation means that a rocket will have tangential speed (except at the poles, an unlikely launch site for other reasons as well). The tangential speed equals the product of the Earth’s angular velocity and the distance from the Earth’s axis of rotation.

An object will have a greater tangential speed near the equator because there the distance from the Earth’s axis of rotation is greatest. The United States launches its rockets from as close to the equator as is convenient: southern Florida. The rotation of the Earth supplies an initial speed of 1469 km/h (408 m/s) to a rocket fired east from Cape Canaveral, about 4% of the required escape speed.

Answer 3

The earth rotates to the east once every 24 hours. Its circumference at the equator is about 24,000 miles. That means that a point on the equator (at 0 degrees latitude) moves 24,000 miles to the east in 24 hours. That means it is moving at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour to the east. A point in Alaska (at a higher latitude) would move through a much smaller circle in the same 24 hour period, so it would have a much slower speed to the east. It therefore would be advantageous to launch nearer the equator and launch to the east so as to gain the additional velocity of the rotation of the earth.

Answer 4

Radial velocity of the Earth's rotation is highest at the equator, therefore you gain the most V at the equator, and won't need as much fuel.

That's why NASA launches from south FL, and the EU is developing a sea-launcher that they can sail down to (or near) the equator to do launches.

Edit: Oops, the sea-launcher had an accident in January:
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/sealaunch/nss8/

Answer 5

NO,you won't be able to deliver a rocket into area without the authorization of the government in specific no longer in usa.that's illegitimate to launch a rocket int area.yet no government tec can hit upon a small rocket yet whilst that's a significant one they're going to probobaly attempt to shoot it down.the rocket ought to pass everywhere.it ought to pass to the white living house or the pentagon and blow up there.

Answer 6

The only reason to launch in Alaska is if you want a polar orbit (one that crosses by both poles). Otherwise, you are correct.

Answer 7

It will gain the velocity of the Earth it is launched anywhere from Earth (the entire Earth is moving at the same speed).

Answer 8

What kind of rocket. Need size/specs.

Answer 9

as your mother-in-laws car comes up the street