Rocket Science - When a space rocket blasts off from the launch pad it goes straight up in the air however beneath it at ground level the Earth is rotating at approximately 1000 mph, which means the actual flight path is a parabolic curve & that it will at no time simply fall straight back to Earth
(youtu.be)https://youtu.be/9H8puVq2oi0?si=Uig8q4DEDbJITHVR&t=180https://i.postimg.cc/9fvZCBRG/Time-Distance-Speed.png![]()
So when you see the first stage separate and fall back to the launch pad under its own power you are witnessing bs .. case in point first stage separation of SpaceX Starship Flight 8 occurred after 2 min 46 sec of flight time, at an altitude of 65 km and while the vehicle was travelling at a speed of 4459 kph.
Whereas the
Speed Distance Time Calculator website, tells us that in that time frame the rocket would be 46 miles downrange .. the rocketeers want to tell you the first stage made its way back to the launch pad under its own power from that altitude and speed, to make a pin point landing .. doesn't sound right to me.
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