How much fuel cost is saved by NASA launching from Florida rather than CA?..Is this more than the cost of cancellations due to weather?
by 
-O-uknow
ANSWERS: 4
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In terms of launching, It will use the same amount of fuel to escape the earths gravity. They just need to recalculate when to launch and in which direction. (won't be too different.) But cost may vary due to transportation (of shuttles, equipment, crew etc) and rescheduling.
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Well it might be more of an issue other than fuel cost. They did spend 4 billion building the SLC-6 launch facility for the space shuttle in California. It was cancelled for several reasons. So, its not like NASA didn't try. And the launch site from California is for polar orbits. This is so because there is no population north or south of the launch facility and circular/elliptical orbits are not a good idea because they wouldn't want the launch profile to be over populated areas east of the launch site. Launching from Florida is mostly for the shuttle to reach circular orbits. Even if the space shuttle program did have a launch site on both coasts they would be using it for different missions.
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Well, NASA chose Florida for a reason. Back when the program started, they could have set up shop anywhere in the US. Here's why Florida is a good launch site: -Launching over the ocean reduces damage if the launch fails. The launch pads are about as close to the beach as they can get. -The rocket boosters must land in the water, so the launch has to head out over the ocean. In California, this means launching west. -Florida, situated on the east coast, allows the shuttles to launch east (over the ocean), which gives them a several-hundred MPH running start on the earth's rotation (kind of how like airplanes take off into the wind to increase the airspeed over their wings). -The extra launch speed allows the shuttle to carry heavier loads than it would otherwise. This may translate to saved fuel costs, but I am not sure. Also, the weather in Florida is generally pretty good. We don't have to deal with earthquakes either.
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my question is why did they not pick a mountain to take off of???
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