Table of Contents
- 1 Why do we launch rockets from sea level?
- 2 Why is it better to launch rockets closer to the equator of the Earth?
- 3 What are the reasons we do not establish launch sites at higher elevations?
- 4 How will Rocket Lab get more satellites into space?
- 5 Can a model rocket fly all the way to orbit?
- 6 Why do we need rockets to travel to other planets?
Why do we launch rockets from sea level?
Advantages to any launch system that starts from high altitudes include reduce gravity drag (the cost of lifting fuel in a gravity well). Rockets launched in thick atmosphere can go so fast that air resistance may cause structural damage.
Why is it better to launch rockets closer to the equator of the Earth?
The land at the equator is moving 1670 km per hour, and land halfway to the pole is only moving 1180 km per hour, so launching from the equator makes the spacecraft move almost 500 km/hour faster once it is launched.
What are the reasons we do not establish launch sites at higher elevations?
You have to accelerate up to orbital speed, and that exponentially complicates all the other factors, making #2 by far the most costly of these concerns. Launching from a mountaintop—even from the summit of Everest—would cut less than 10\% of the cost off what is already the cheapest item on the list—the uphill climb.
Is there less oxygen at higher altitudes?
As altitude increases, the amount of gas molecules in the air decreases—the air becomes less dense than air nearer to sea level. Decreased air pressure means that less oxygen is available for breathing.
How high do rockets travel before they fall back to Earth?
Some sounding rockets travel up to 950 km or higher before falling back to Earth. Ariane 5 is a European Space Agency and Arianespace rocket used to launch satellites. It is 50 m tall with two stages.
How will Rocket Lab get more satellites into space?
Getting more satellites into space. In May 2017, Rocket Lab launched the first test flight of their Electron rocket. The test is part of the build up towards running a commercial service, launching rockets with small payloads into space.
Can a model rocket fly all the way to orbit?
While they can not fly all the way to orbit, there are two stage model rocket kits available. You can study the flight characteristics of a two stage model rocket by using the RocketModeler II simulation program.
Why do we need rockets to travel to other planets?
To travel beyond the Earth towards other planets and beyond, very large multistage rockets are needed to give a probe such as Voyager 1 enough thrust to escape the gravitational pull of the Earth and the Sun. Voyager 1 is a 722 kg space probe that was launched in 1976 on a tour of the Solar System.