Paul Allen's new rocket-launching plane

Re:Paul Allen's new rocket-launching plane by Gravityloss on Wednesday May 31, 2017 @07:35PM (#14456764)

You can also fly towards the equator before the launch for more boost. Further from the Earth's axis.

For example Cape Kennedy is 28 degrees north. If you fly to the equator, you get another 200 m/s.

Depends a bit to which orbit you're launching though.

Another good thing is flexibility if you are more constrained by launch windows in a stationary launch location. Hard to explain.

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Re:Paul Allen's new rocket-launching plane by Gravityloss on Tuesday June 06, 2017 @10:38AM (#14497533)

I had a big mistake in the comment above, it's 220 km/h or about 60 m/s.

    cos(28)=0.88 
    0.12*(2*pi*7000 km) = 5300 km
    5300 km / 24 h = 220 km/h
    220 km/h / 3.6 m/s/km/h = 61 m/s

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