The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. On the Lighter Side
  3. That CAN'T be true!
  4. Why are rockets not launched when the moon is high?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Why are rockets not launched when the moon is high?

  • 1 Replies
  • 2635 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Arthur Lubenfeld <>

  • Guest
Why are rockets not launched when the moon is high?
« on: 13/04/2014 11:46:59 »
Arthur Lubenfeld <> asked the Naked Scientists:
   
On your podcast on 8/8/13 (you can tell how behind I am) an astronomer mentioned that "you do not launch when the moon is high". No explanation was given regarding this. Could you explain?

Arthur Lubenfeld
What do you think?
« Last Edit: 13/04/2014 11:46:59 by _system »
Logged
 



Offline CliffordK

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 6408
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 15 times
  • Site Moderator
    • View Profile
  • Best Answer
  • Re: Why are rockets not launched when the moon is high?
    « Reply #1 on: 24/04/2014 17:50:58 »
    I'm not finding the referenced podcast.

    I don't see why a LEO or even a geostationary orbital launch would be significantly affected by the moon.  Presumably gravity would be reduced slightly by the moon being either direcly overhead, or on the opposite side of the earth, but the difference would be minuscule. 

    Launches to other planets, or into a solar orbit frequently use the moon as a gravity assist, or to help alter the course of the rocket.  However to do so, the exact place of the encounter has to be carefully planned, perhaps giving a fairly narrow launch window.  Undoubtedly as the rocket launches in an Eastward curve, the location for the lunar encounter would not be directly overhead.
    Logged
     



    • Print
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
    Tags:
     

    Similar topics (5)

    Could a planet be orbited by another planet instead of a moon?

    Started by JakubTylBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 10
    Views: 10095
    Last post 03/12/2013 10:38:09
    by JakubTyl
    The Moon orbits Earth, the Earth the Sun, Sun the Milky way...The Universe?

    Started by acecharlyBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 11
    Views: 5291
    Last post 08/04/2012 20:32:44
    by Airthumbs
    Breath-holding and High Intensity exercise -- is Breath Holding important?

    Started by CalebBoard General Science

    Replies: 14
    Views: 10482
    Last post 12/01/2014 22:25:08
    by RD
    why does the moon perfectly block out the sun's "disc area" during eclipse?

    Started by paddy73Board Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 2
    Views: 3945
    Last post 14/03/2011 23:43:14
    by Soul Surfer
    What does it mean to move from high entropy to low entropy?

    Started by Duan Gauche Board Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 12
    Views: 75500
    Last post 02/03/2015 21:07:01
    by evan_au
    There was an error while thanking
    Thanking...
    • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
      Privacy Policy
      SMFAds for Free Forums
    • Naked Science Forum ©

    Page created in 0.117 seconds with 36 queries.

    • Podcasts
    • Articles
    • Get Naked
    • About
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • We love feedback

    Follow us

    cambridge_logo_footer.png

    ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.