Brazil Successfully Launches Its First Rocket To Space

thatshortkid writes "The Washington Times is reporting on Brazil's first successful space launch. Since it is closer to the equator, the task of getting up to space is easier, meaning much more cargo room over fuel. Hello commercial launch market! With this development, along with China's expanding space program, India making moves to space, and our own homegrown (ok, still growing) private space industry, where does this put NASA? Does it take a load off of them to pursue bigger endeavors, or will NASA slowly decline in relevance?"

Comments

Re:Confused

[apanap]

Earths rotation DOES help. A point on the equator moves at something like 450 m/s, for a low earth orbit you have to reach a (horisontal) velocity of about 7500 m/s. So assuming the desired orbit is in the directon of earths rotation these 450 m/s will be "for free". It's also convinient for GEO satellites or any other equatorial orbit since a launch from a more northern/southern launch spot would reqiure a plane change after launch, which can require quite a lot of extra fuel for a large satellite. For polar orbits a launch pad closer to the poles is often better.

FYI: NASA isnt in the commercial launch business

[Manhigh]

And hasnt been for some time. All satellites put up for private enterprise are launched (typically) on Lockheed Martin (Atlas) or Boeing (Delta) launch vehicles.