I think they were launching due south, directly away from the camera Also most launches are essentially go straight up to get out of the atmospheric drag asap

I think they were launching due south, directly away from the camera Also most launches are essentially go straight up to get out of the atmospheric drag asap, then hang a turn into orbit - the optimal parameters for when you make that turn is going to be a trade off of a bunch of things - drag, the orbit you want, air pressure that day, .....