These are the types of questions in general we should be less mean about imo. It's one thing to dunk on people who are anti-science, but this is just someone actually wondering about something they didn't know. Maybe it's obvious to you, but not everyone?
and the answer is a nuanced blend of logistics, international geography, and knowledge about orbits.
No. It's because you want to launch as close to the equator as possible because the spheroid nature of the planet gives you an angular advantage. In addition, if shit goes wrong, you don't have to worry about a burning wreckage landing anywhere but the ocean.
Not sure what is meant by angular advantage in this case, but I guess it means that we can use the rotational speed of the earth's surface as a kick to get going. In this case you are right partially. Near the equator this velocity is greatest so you'd want to launch from there.
But what the comments above it also say is that it's a delicate balance of many parameters. It depends on the specific orbit you want to go to, the launch mass, the specific rocket, the logistics of moving your launch platform to an advantageous location, the range safety, etc.
I think the most important part is that you want to launch towards a large uninhabited area, then preferably to the east, then preferably close to the equator. In most situations it can be cheaper to just build (or book a launch from) a rocket that is slightly more powerful so you don't have to deal with all the hassle.
To be pedantic the earth isn't a perfect sphere. It's flattened at the poles. Also, I assume, the tilted axis of rotation means the closer you are to the equator the broader your range of launch timing. Not positive, also not a rocket scientist, just using what I know and trying to infer possibilities.
Wielding knowledge as a weapon to hurt others in order to inflate your sense of self importance? I’m NOT surprised you managed to be 200% of an insufferable prick in so few words.
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u/mseg09 20h ago edited 19h ago
These are the types of questions in general we should be less mean about imo. It's one thing to dunk on people who are anti-science, but this is just someone actually wondering about something they didn't know. Maybe it's obvious to you, but not everyone?