Why do space rockets not take off like planes (i.e. straight up vs sideways and up)?
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It takes a certain amount of energy to go from Earth’s surface to orbit. Rockets are launched straight upwards because that is the most efficient route out of Earth’s gravitational field.
Could a rocket fly sideways, climb, and *then* shoot out of the atmosphere from a higher vantage point? Sure, but that would require a lot more fuel, and thus would be less efficient. Using wings to generate lift doesn’t use less energy per unit of altitude gained than a rocket does, it just applies that energy differently.
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