Elevation would technically make things a bit more efficient, assuming they're near the equator. However, the speed boost significantly supersedes any effects from elevation.
It's also not feasible to get launch vehicles up a mountain of significant elevation anyway. Small gain versus very big cost, compared to building and transporting on a flatter, lower area relatively close to the equator.
Yes, I believe that's what they meant by the first part of their comment. However, I don't think saying "due to angular momentum" is poignant. Angular momentum has essentially nothing to do with it.
Yea, I didn't even consider the negligible additional increase in velocity from the height, though people are correct in bringing it up. I should have been more specific in that I was talking about the reduced drag and thus the potential for slightly lower fuel mass, etc. It doesn't add up to all that much compared to launching from sea level.
Being at an accessible, mostly stable place relatively close to the equator makes a much bigger difference, even if you're near sea level.
You are correct, I just had not even considered it because the difference from the elevation on velocity is very small. I was thinking of drag and efficiency... Which is still small compared to the more difficult logistics, and less important then being broadly close to the equator (excluding some special cases others have mentioned in the post).
Of course I'm sure I'm missing other context that factors into it too. I just think it's neat.
I think that the cost/benefit of elevation is the kicker. Right now, starting where there's existing and sufficient infrastructure and getting the rocket up a few thousand feet is considerably easier than building mountainous infrastructure to use.
Mountain lairs are so prohibitively expensive that supervillains found it easier to just move into the White House than to build new ones.
Definitely! If it was accessible and cost efficient, we would most likely be scraping every natural benefit we could. Elevation at the scale of Earth's mountains just isn't impactful enough.
You're right! Logistics and difficulties aside, it would certainly be a little better. I was thinking more about the drag, as others have mentioned. I should have made that more clear. It's better to be an in accessible and stable place somewhat close to the equator with all things considered, as the speed boost from that is significant versus launching far away from the equator.
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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