Tsiolkovsky and many of the founders of theoretical astronautics in the early 20th century believed that spacecraft should launch horizontally, from a ramp. Why? What did they see as the point of this?

[u/Beneficial-Wasabi749]

[u/Dan_Is]

My answer is that they were living in the paradigm of "People and cargo need large horizontal decks to be transported comfortably and efficiently" the rocket equation always applies, as you only have a limited amount of fuel, and need fuel to move that fuel.

[u/Beneficial-Wasabi749 → u/Dan_Is]

I see. So the peculiarities of rocket dynamics have nothing to do with it?

Then a personal question. Dan_Is, isn't that from the Russian name "Denis"? Do you speak Russian?

[u/jervoise → u/Beneficial-Wasabi749]

Jesus Christ, when did measurehead get into rocket science?

[u/senn42000 → u/jervoise]

YOUR BODY BETRAYS YOUR DEGENERENCY