Why do rocket launches usually go straight up before turning?
Quick Answer
Rockets launch vertically to get above the densest atmosphere quickly and avoid wasting energy fighting drag. They then tilt to build orbital speed sideways.
The Full Story
A rocket needs to reach not just high altitude but also enormous horizontal speed to orbit Earth. Going straight up at first clears the thick lower atmosphere, where drag is highest and losses are greatest. Once the vehicle is safely climbing, it performs a gravity turn, gradually pitching over to build sideways velocity. Orbit is about speed, not just height: low Earth orbit requires roughly 7.8 kilometers per second of orbital speed. This launch profile is used by vehicles such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and NASA’s SLS.
Key Facts
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"Why don’t rockets just point sideways from the start?"
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