I'm not really wondering why NASA (NACA) established Wallops in the first place, I am more curious why they still use it for launches and established the mid-atlantic regional spaceport when Cape Canaveral seems better suited.
We have Cape Canaveral for East Coast prograde orbit launches. It has better weather generally speaking and is closer to the equator. Plus it has a larger infrastructure for launching rockets.
Of course Vandenberg also has its benefits. Polar orbits, retrograde launches, West Coast with launches over ocean...good weather..etc....
But what benefit does Wallops serve? NASA obviously has facilities all across the country, but why are they still launching from Wallops when it appears that Cape Canaveral is much better suited for prograde orbit launches. Only thing I could really find was someone mentioning that Wallops is better for payloads entering an orbit destined for the ISS but couldn't confirm that.
Not hating on NASA or Wallops here. I'm just curious if I am missing some of the benefits of launching from there.
Submitted April 30, 2017 at 08:40PM by divingdoc http://ift.tt/2qu6Gb8
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