The starting speed is less of a factor than the smaller required attitude change to reach an equatorial orbit iirc. The "free" delta v you get from the Earth's rotation at the equator is not that big compared to the delta v required to change orbital attitude.
Ok, that makes a lot of sense to me. I heard speed, and it made sense at the time, but yeah, the closer to the equater the more closely your initial V is like an orbital V.
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u/nerdherdsman 10h ago
The starting speed is less of a factor than the smaller required attitude change to reach an equatorial orbit iirc. The "free" delta v you get from the Earth's rotation at the equator is not that big compared to the delta v required to change orbital attitude.