why do space rockets take off from a upright position instead of taking off of a runway like a plane, reach 40,000 ft and entering space from there.

Question

why do space rockets take off from a upright position instead of taking off of a runway like a plane, reach 40,000 ft and entering space from there.

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Rockets are huge and heavy, by placing the vehicle in a vertical position all the weight and stress is down the structure of the rocket, if it was horizontal you would need far more support in the structure to prevent it collapsing under its own weight. More support needs a lot more weight and in a rocket the additional weight makes a massive difference.