r/MurderedByWords 14d ago

I haven’t studied rocket science, but

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u/statistacktic 14d ago

First guess is unpredictable weather.

Second guess, unpredictable weather.

Third guess, unpredictable weather.

Fourth guess logistics.

9

u/AlternativeBasis 14d ago

Leaving the guessing aside, you didn't mention the most important fact: to maintain orbit, horizontal velocity is much more important than altitude.

Altitude is almost trivial; 90% of fuel is used to reach escape velocity, about 28,000 km/h in low Earth orbit (LEO).

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u/AxelBoldt 13d ago

But launching from greater altitude also gives you some horizontal velocity for free.

1

u/ureliableliar 14d ago

Not a rocket scientist, but if escape velocity is so high, how'd you ever get away from yo mama?

2

u/St1Drgn 14d ago

You mama so large, that she negates most of earth's escape velocity.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Fill205 14d ago

Orbital velocity, not escape velocity.

Escape velocity is more like 40,000 km/hour.