From a fuel efficiency and expense perspective, with the amount of energy needed to launch an object, that 0.3 percent savings goes a long way.Ĭape Canaveral was also chosen because of how close it is to the Atlantic Ocean. Why is this important? “As the Earth rotates on its axis, it creates positive kinetic energy.” (1) The closer to the equator, the greater the kinetic energy is, which means a rocket launching from Cape Canaveral has to use 0.3 percent less energy. When this area was being looked at as a potential site, the fact that there was already an infrastructure in place, roads specifically, made Cape Canaveral an easy choice to move the launch program to.Īnother reason why Cape Canaveral was appealing was the close proximity to the equator, as it lies 28 degrees latitude above. And so the hunt began to find a more suitable place to develop the ever-growing missile launch program.Ĭape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), a military base utilized by both the Navy and Airforce for defense and strategic operations has played a key role in the development of the space program and missile testing in the United States. Bumper rockets were first tested in New Mexico, but after six test launches, it was decided that a new location was needed. Although Cape Canaveral wasn’t the first place where rockets were initially launched, it became quickly apparent that finding a spot that could grow alongside of technological advances was key.
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