The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL). VT and VL is two parts. VT commonly takes place near the equator. I know that most people will say, “How does the Falcon 9 get to the North/South Pole after we launch it?” But if this question were solved and we could move the rocket to a position above the north or south pole, would the VL be easier or more difficult at the pole than the equator?
In: Planetary Science
Launching near the equator, heading east, imparts the rotational velocity of the planet spinning to the rocket, allowing you to achieve orbit with less fuel.
If you launched from the pole, you would not have any of this extra energy, meaning more fuel would be needed to achieve orbit.
We launch from the equator because the rotation of the earth adds about 1,000 mph “sideways” speed to the rocket for free. Most launches are about achieving orbit around the Earth, and orbit requires a body to be going sideways very fast. The Earth essentially “throws” the rocket when we launch towards the East.
There are orbits that go from pole to pole, but it’s still easier to launch from near the equator and then change the orbit when you’re above the atmosphere, than to launch from a pole.
Also because there’s lots of easy launch sites at low latitudes, surrounded by ocean or empty land, and it’d be a lot harder to get a rocket or space shuttle, and launch site, and staff, etc. up to Greenland or far northern Canada.
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