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> UK is at a bad latitude for launching into orbit. Why? What would happen if one tried?
by d33 9y ago
> UK is at a bad latitude for launching into orbit.
Why? What would happen if one tried?
- IIAOPSW 9y agoThe closer you are to the equator, the less lateral boosting you need to do because Earths spin helps you out. Less boost = less fuel. That's why the US launches from Florida and the Soviets used to launch from Kazakhstan
- mnw21cam 9y agoIt depends what type of orbit you want to enter. If you launch from a high latitude, and thrust directly East, then you end up with an orbit that has a declination that brings you back to that same latitude. You can increase the orbital declination by thrusting in a different direction than pure East, but it isn't possible to decrease the declination without effectively turning a corner over the equator. Turning a corner in orbit takes a huge amount of delta-v, making the rocket much bigger and more expensive. Therefore, the UK is not a sensible place to launch from if you want an equatorial orbit, but it's fine for a polar orbit.
- woodandsteel 9y agoThe launch trajectory would take the rocket over France. I don't know if the UK government would consider that a plus or a minus. </humor>