I don't understand why they launch the shuttle from Florida, probably the most humid place on the continent, where the amount of water vapor in the air on a hot day guarantees that the sudden mega-chill of fueling the rockets will create massive amounts of condensate ice. Why not launch from the Mojave Desert, Edwards AFB, where it's as dry as the proverbial popcorn f@rt?

JimBob:

I don't understand why they launch the shuttle from Florida, probably the most humid place on the continent, where the amount of water vapor in the air on a hot day guarantees that the sudden mega-chill of fueling the rockets will create massive amounts of condensate ice. Why not launch from the Mojave Desert, Edwards AFB, where it's as dry as the proverbial popcorn f@rt?

It's a physics thang, JimBob. Launching rockets near the
equator requires less fuel energy than from places further from the equator. This is because of rotational energy imparted by the revolving earth, which lessens the amount of fuel/thrust needed. This effect is largest at the equator and less the further one is away from the equator (this is why Edwards AFB doesn't make for the best launch site). This often comes up as a first-year physics problem. I believe the French shoot their satellite rocks from French Guiana in equatorial South America for the same reason. Apparently Russia and China have to make bigger rockets for this reason, as they, of course, aren't blessed with any equatorial real estate.

Of course, then you might then ask, why not launch from Hawaii (still purdee humid, of course)? Well, that probably has to do with historical and political reasons (Florida has many more congressmen than Hawaii for one thing). Hawaii, in particular the eponymous Big Island, is also relatively unstable, geologically speaking, thereby making it a poor candidate.

Latitudes

Cape Canaveral Fl 28.4

Brownsville Tx 25.93

White Sands 32.4

Actually the original reason was not because of the physics of rotation but the physics of gravity, what goes up must come down. The space program started with not even orbiting the earth. The problem which was and still is, that the boosters have to fall somewhere. Preferably not over land.

Why not wrap the foam after they apply it, like they do with boats. That way the plastic will hold it all in and then vaporize as it enters earth's atmosphere again.

This is junk. It is old old technology. The shuttle program should be shut down NOW. Hopefully no one else will be killed. It is not different than your old car. Spend thousands of $$$ in repairs and it is still an old car. Many people are unaware that the shuttle is made from old Apollo parts. These parts over 30 years old. How many of us are still using 30 year old technology? Much of the shuttle is made of tin. As tin ages, it tends to create microscopic whiskers. These whiskers will cause short circuits. These chronic problems of the shuttle are symptomatic of what happens with ancient technology. This is not the NASA of the moon landing's age. This is an organization whose wheels are coming off.

It must be launched east to take advantage of of the 1000 mile per hour rotation of the earth. The solid rocket boosters must splash down in water to be reusable.

Dear cento57,

Have you heard of Orion? We are going back to the moon.

"Orion" uses modified shuttle parts , a single SRB for the manned module , and a modified fuel tank/shuttle for the "heavy lift" portion.

What about the old "Orion" that used mini nukes for propulsion? Heh , Heh.

I got a good one why not use panty hoes I mean bigger ones, there light and strong. but it will be a big one wont you think.

JimBob:

I don't understand why they launch the shuttle from Florida, probably the most humid place on the continent, where the amount of water vapor in the air on a hot day guarantees that the sudden mega-chill of fueling the rockets will create massive amounts of condensate ice. Why not launch from the Mojave Desert, Edwards AFB, where it's as dry as the proverbial popcorn f@rt?

I agree 100% with Jim Bob...I live in Phoenix, AZ. Here, It is as dry as a bone sometime a mere 5% humidity. Occasionally, we get a summer monsoon, but we are lucky to get an inch or so of rain. The only challenges of launching from here would be that it does get to around 115 degrees in the summertime, and when we do get a monsoon, it ususally kicks up a huge dust cloud. All in all I think it is better than Flordia.

-Dave P

The reason they have it in flordia is stated above, it's so the solid fuel rocket boosters have water to land in and if they have to ditch a vehicle they have the ocean to steer it into so instead of a city.

That is exactly why they keep using the "cape" for launches .

Although that didn't really help those that were under Columbias path when it flamed down , did it?

Fortunately there were no People living under the flaming debris path...

The shuttle doesn't land in the same place it takes off from. The tanks are made in Louisiana, as I recall. I also have a vague recollection that the boosters need to be sent someplace else for rebuilding before each launch. The payloads come from all over the place as, sometimes, do the astronauts. That's a lot of travel time and money. Florida's probably cheaper to send all that stuff to than Hawaii.