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by m4rtink 22 days ago
Main advantage of air launch is that you can better match your target inclination or perhaps even orbit timing - just drop the rocket at the right time in the right direction over the ocean. With a fixed launch site you always need to adjust for some difference of your point of origin versus the orbit you want to achieve.
1 comments

Sure but the main disadvantage that you need another highly complex vehicle. Best case its a existing commercial platform like Virgin Orbit, but then you are limited by the size. Or you design another whole vehicle that more complex then the rocket itself.

And even then you need to have all the infrastructure flying and integrated rather as nice static pad.

You are also putting human in bigger danger unless you want to have another autonomous highly complex vehicle.

The benefits are simply better addressed by having 2-3 launch pads.