Re: Optimal location of world capital

Derek Lyons wrote:
> John Mianowski <spamfree@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>> Launching Eastward gives you the speed of the Earth's rotation (almost
>> 1000 mph @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 equator) in your favor.  Launching Westward, you'd have it
>> working against you.
> 
> That was a Big Deal back in the stone ages of the 1950's.  Like so
> much else that was a Big Deal back then, it is essentially meaningless
> now.

That is nonsense - e.g.:

``An object on the surface of the Earth already has an
   eastward velocity, because of the Earth's rotation,
   but it is much too small: 409 meter/sec on the equator,
   and 409 times cosL at latitude L. That is much too small
   to fling you or me into orbit (for which we ought to be
   grateful), but it's still something, and satellite
   launchers, eager to make use of the smallest advantage,
   fire their rockets eastward. At Cape Canaveral you get
   a bonus of about 360 m/s.''

  - http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/StarFAQ3.htm#q62
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