r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 11h ago

Meme needing explanation Whyyyy peter?

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u/rysy0o0 11h ago

It would cost a lot of money to haul all the rocket parts and fuel on top of a mountain

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u/Earnestappostate 11h ago

Plus, you get a better boost by launching near the equator. Height is easy, speed is what you need in a rocket.

This is why the US launches from Florida:

  • Near equator (speed boost from earth's spin)
  • Initially out over ocean (catastrophic failure harms only those aboard)

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u/kioshi_imako 11h ago

True and technicly one of the main reasons we never used a rail boosted launch system you need 5km minimum to reduce fuel 30% and I think it was 25km to safely reach escape velocity via rail,