For 19 years, I lived in Florida and could watch launches including Space Shuttle launches. They always went straight up for a ways then curved off. Never straight up.
In this linked video, a Florida launch is seen going sideways over Pennsylvania. Doesn't look all that high in the sky. Can anybody explain this?
Rockets have to tilt to the side as they travel into the sky in order to reach orbit, or a circular path of motion around the Earth. This steering technique is known as a gravity turn, which uses Earth's gravity to help conserve rocket fuel and minimize stress and strain on the spacecraft.
DoctorK 0 points 1.6 years ago
You're right.