Re: Optimal location of world capital

On Feb 27, 9:34 pm, fairwa...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Derek Lyons) wrote:
> John Mianowski <spamf...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >On Feb 26, 12:43 pm, fairwa...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Derek Lyons) wrote:
> >> "rick++" <rick...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >> >If you take interplanetary travel into consideration, then anything
on
> >> >the equator has cheapest access to earth orbit.
>
> >> But the difference isn't really all that much.
>
> >> >You also want an east coast where you can use the ocean as a saftey
> >> >buffer.
>
> >> You can also launch to the west.
>
> >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.

I don't know about that.  A nearly 2000 mph swing in the speed you
start with can have a fair effect on how much fuel you need to get to
orbital speed, & hence the payload you can launch with a given
vehicle.  I think it's a valid consideration & still favors launching
Eastward over water.  I'd reserve "essentially meaningless" for
something on the order of whether you'd need a Suburban vs. Expedition
to tow a trailer.

JM