Are there advantages to launching space missions from the Arctic/North Pole?

In summary, launching from the Arctic or North Pole would result in the loss of the Earth's rotational boost, requiring more fuel and less payload to reach orbit. The majority of space junk is located near the equator due to the crossing of orbital paths. Placing a satellite in a polar orbit for protection from space junk is inefficient. Launching from the poles for deep space missions is possible, but costly and inefficient compared to launching from the equator. Israel launched a satellite against Earth's rotation for safety concerns, and polar orbits are beneficial for global coverage. Overall, launching from the equator provides a significant advantage in terms of speed and efficiency.
  • #1
Arctic Fox
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Thinking that there is quite a bit of junk orbiting around the equator, what would be the disadvantages (if any) of conducting a launch from the Arctic/North Pole?

Any comments on launching from the Magnetic North Pole?
 
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  • #2
Well for one, you would lose the ‘boost’ of the Earth’s rotation that you get near the Equator, thus meaning your rocket would need to carry more fuel and less payload to get it into orbit.
While the bulk of space junk is probably concentrated near the equator, this is simply because all orbiting debris crosses the equator twice during their orbit.
Anyway, the orbits of satellites are selected to achieve a certain goal. Placing a satellite in a polar orbit specifically to shield it from space junk isn’t very efficient.
 
  • #3
A polar orbit would still past through the equatorial belt of junk twice per orbit. Any collision that did occur in one of those encounters would of necessity be a high-speed one. When an object is in a west-to-east orbit, at least it is going the same direction as most of the other stuff there, so a collision with a tiny bolt might not be catastrophic.
 
  • #4
I was thinking of a launch completely into space, not orbit. It seems like everything is launched into some sort of Earth or sun orbit. I know a gravity slingshot is a good way to save fuel, but is it always required?

I guess I’m wondering if there have ever been anything ever launched from the poles... besides ICBMs in the 80's :(
 
  • #5
Arctic Fox said:
I was thinking of a launch completely into space, not orbit.

If that's the goal then all you need is a rocket powerful enough to accelerate your cargo to Earth escape velocity, 11km/s.

And there have been rockets launched from near the poles. There are a few launch facilities in Alaska if I'm not mistaken.
 
  • #6
The reason you wouldn't want to launch from the poles has already been mentioned here.

The orbit has to pass over the equator twice per orbit. Since your orbit must also pass (more or less) over the point you launched from, that limits your choice of inclination for the orbit to anything higher than your launch latitude. At the poles, you've only got the option of a 90 degree inclination orbit. Since most sites you'd want to visit outside of LEO are in the ecliptic at 23.5 degrees, you'd need to do an immensely expensive (fuel-wise) burn to change your inclination. Think: spend 9.2 km/sec dV to get into orbit. Then burn ~6-8km/sec to stop that polar motion and ~6-8km/sec to start going in the ecliptic direction. All that and you haven't even fired off the "leave Earth vicinity" burn. Wasteful.
 
  • #7
Arctic Fox said:
I was thinking of a launch completely into space, not orbit. It seems like everything is launched into some sort of Earth or sun orbit. I know a gravity slingshot is a good way to save fuel, but is it always required?
Gravity slingshots and leaving Earth's gravity are only applicable to deep-space probes. There have only been a couple of dozen. There are thousands of satellites and they must be in orbit to be useful.
 
  • #8
Arctic Fox said:
I was thinking of a launch completely into space, not orbit. It seems like everything is launched into some sort of Earth or sun orbit. I know a gravity slingshot is a good way to save fuel, but is it always required?

I guess I’m wondering if there have ever been anything ever launched from the poles... besides ICBMs in the 80's :(

I don't know of any such launches, probably because by launching from the equator you get about a thousand mph for free. It is possible to launch from elsewhere, but very expensive and innefficient.
 
  • #9
LURCH said, "I don't know of any such launches, probably because by launching from the equator you get about a thousand mph for free."

Actually from Florida, where most (all?) of our satellites are launched you probably only get about 500mph for free. Even in low Earth orbit a satellite has to be going around 18,000mph. I suppose every little bit helps, but if there were a good reason to launch farther north, I don't think that losing the free 500mph would be a deal breaker.
 
  • #10
Israel launched its first satellite 'backward', IIRC; against the Earth's rotation - they were concerned that if the launch failed the fallout over nations to the east would be unmanageable.

Polar LEO orbits are a good idea if you want hi-res coverage of the whole globe, e.g. for mapping (or spying) purposes.
 

FAQ: Are there advantages to launching space missions from the Arctic/North Pole?

What benefits would launching rockets from the Arctic have?

Rocket launches from the Arctic have several potential benefits. Firstly, the Arctic region is less populated and therefore, launches can be conducted with minimal risk to human life and property. Additionally, the Earth's rotation at the Arctic Circle is faster, allowing rockets to reach higher speeds and reduce fuel consumption. The cold climate also provides ideal conditions for storing and handling rocket fuel, which is highly volatile.

How would launching from the Arctic affect the environment?

Launching rockets from the Arctic can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. On one hand, there may be concerns about pollution from rocket fuel and debris falling into sensitive Arctic ecosystems. However, launching from the Arctic can also reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere, as rockets would not need to travel as far to reach orbit.

What challenges would be faced in launching from the Arctic?

Launching rockets from the Arctic presents several challenges. The extreme weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and strong winds, could affect the launch and potentially damage equipment. There may also be logistical challenges in transporting equipment and personnel to remote Arctic locations. Additionally, the lack of infrastructure in the Arctic region may require significant investments to support rocket launches.

How would launching from the Arctic impact international relations?

As the Arctic region is governed by multiple nations, launching rockets from the Arctic could have significant impacts on international relations. It may require cooperation and agreements between countries for the use of airspace and potential conflicts over territorial claims. However, it could also lead to collaboration and partnerships between nations in space exploration and research.

What are the potential risks associated with launching from the Arctic?

Some potential risks of launching rockets from the Arctic include impacts on wildlife and indigenous communities, as well as the risk of accidents or failures during launches. The remote location and harsh conditions could also pose challenges for emergency response in case of an accident. Additionally, there may be concerns about the security of launching sensitive military or commercial payloads from the Arctic region.

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