03-16-2016, 03:49 PM
AlohaDave,
"I think it's a great idea to stimulate the economy, but would like to see detailed location information as to where a debris field would occur in the event of an accident during or after launch and have the location situated so that it minimizes dangers to the population centers."
Although I doubt a satellite launch site will ever be built in Hawaii, there is only one realistic area it could be built, and that's somewhere in Ka'u. There are two important considerations: 1) it would need to be built on the east coast and 2) it would need to be built in a remote area.
1) Satellite launches are always done to the east and if possible as near to the equator as possible. The rotation of the earth gives a boost to the launcher and satellites' velocity and so you want to launch on the east side of a land mass with plenty of ocean available if the rocket fails shortly after launch. Launching a rocket over a populated area is a big no no for obvious reasons. (The rotational speed of the earth is fastest at the equator hence the reason you want to be as close as possible to the equator).
2) The launch site itself has to be remote enough that a failure (read "explosion") on launch is contained within the launch site and does not affect a populated area.
A remote area on the Ka'u coast is the only area I can think of on the island that might meet both these requirements.
"I think it's a great idea to stimulate the economy, but would like to see detailed location information as to where a debris field would occur in the event of an accident during or after launch and have the location situated so that it minimizes dangers to the population centers."
Although I doubt a satellite launch site will ever be built in Hawaii, there is only one realistic area it could be built, and that's somewhere in Ka'u. There are two important considerations: 1) it would need to be built on the east coast and 2) it would need to be built in a remote area.
1) Satellite launches are always done to the east and if possible as near to the equator as possible. The rotation of the earth gives a boost to the launcher and satellites' velocity and so you want to launch on the east side of a land mass with plenty of ocean available if the rocket fails shortly after launch. Launching a rocket over a populated area is a big no no for obvious reasons. (The rotational speed of the earth is fastest at the equator hence the reason you want to be as close as possible to the equator).
2) The launch site itself has to be remote enough that a failure (read "explosion") on launch is contained within the launch site and does not affect a populated area.
A remote area on the Ka'u coast is the only area I can think of on the island that might meet both these requirements.