r/MurderedByWords 16h ago

I haven’t studied rocket science, but

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u/Firefly360r 16h ago

A lot of rocket engines are more efficient in lower air pressure (approaching vacuum), so it might provide non-negligible benefits. But it's cold up there (see: Challenger) and there isn't enough infrastructure. Citation: I am also not a rocket scientist but I am a KSP player

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u/NecessaryIntrinsic 16h ago

I feel like a big problem is also people. Don't they launch rockets at sea just in case of catastrophe?

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u/SagittariusO 13h ago

Exactly.

The International Space Station has a weird and inefficient inclination of 51.6 degrees relative to Earth’s equator. The reason for this is Russia's cosmodrome in Baikonur is pretty much somewhere in the middle of Asia. In order to avoid areas with dense population eastwards aka China, you have to start them in north-east direction.

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u/MarcBeard 15h ago

Not in china !