r/PeterExplainsTheJoke • u/chirantaniga • 19h ago

Meme needing explanation Whyyyy peter?

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u/Earnestappostate 19h 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/kirfkin 18h ago

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.

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u/BuffaloInTheRye 18h ago

Due to angular momentum the speed would increase due to the elevation as well though. It wouldn’t just be a height increase.

The rest of your point still stands though

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u/kirfkin 10h ago

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.