As per our current scientific knowledge the earth rotates on its axis and it rotates at a speed of 1670 kilometers/hour. This decreases by the cosine of your latitude so that at a latitude of 45 degrees, cos(45) = .707 and the speed is .707 x 1670 = 1180 kilometers/hr
Earth atmosphere has 5 distinct layers :
1. First there is the troposphere, which contains more than half of the overall atmosphere. Near the poles, it starts at the Earth’s surface and stretches more than 30,000 ft (9 km), and about 56,000 ft (17 km) at the Equator
2. The Second layer is the stratosphere ,it begins where the troposphere ends, extending above 31 miles (50 km) above that. This is where many airplanes fly, due to the stability of this layer.
3. Going onward up, there is the mesosphere — the area in which meteors generally burn up
4. Just above the mesosphere is the thermosphere
5. Exosphere is the area where earth atmosphere ultimately merges with space. Space starts at 188 KM above the earth surface.
Keeping all the above in perspective, Let’s say that a space craft reaches an altitude of 800 KM above the earth surface and is well outside the earth’s atmosphere. Now since the earth below is rotating, would the space craft be able to land in different places by just hovering above and making a straight vertical descent. This would eliminate all horizontal travel distance as done by the airplanes when traveling from one point to another. Once we are at 800 km above the earth surface, all that is needed is to wait for the appropriate time when as a result of rotation of the earth, your destination point passes right under you and you descent your space craft to your destination. Do you think that this could revolutionize travelling? Less fuel and less time by just taking advantage of the rotation of the earth?
I am also attaching a diagram to clarify my question. The Diagram shows the various layers of earth’ atmosphere. The Orange tube just shows the vertical descent I am talking about from Point A in outer space (say at 800 km above the surface of earth). The Yellow line is the Imaginary karman line at distance of 110 km which serves the boundary between the earth’s atmosphere and the region where the space begings.
Please comment if the idea is feasible and the areas where you see flaws in this theory. One possible argument that people can give in the opposition of the idea is :
“Motion is relative and that the earth’s atmosphere rotates with the same velocity as the earth itself and therefore our spacecraft in question would also be in same motion as the atmosphere” - Relative Motion Concept
Please note that the relative motion concept would not apply in the case presented above because my assumption is that the space craft is no longer in earth’s atmosphere and is way beyond the karman line and cannot be considered as inside the earth’s atmosphere. The Space craft is 800 KM above the surface of the earth.
Do you think that this idea of vertical travelling taking advantage of earth’s rotation is possible? Please comment. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
