So true Ed,

If the center of gravity is behind the center of pressure during
subsonic flight - all anomalous aerodynamic events add up to a spiraling
"out of control" situation.

AFIK, France is the only nation that launches over downstream populations.

I don't think they will launch many things from Europe anymre - since
they have bought a launch territory in "BRAZIL" Sadly, so many islands
are being scarffed up by sons of global hyper-capitalists that no-one is
immune from Karl Rove.'s machinations.

iThanks,

Rick





ed kyle wrote:
Roy Smith wrote:

I read that the much denser LOX is on the top[*] of the ET, with the
LH below it. This seems counter-intuitive. I would think from a
structural point of view, you would want the heavier stuff on the
bottom, and it would also move the vehicle's CG aft, which I would
think would improve aerodynamic stability.



To make a missile (a rocket or an arrow, etc)
stable in the atmosphere, the center of gravity
should be forward of the center of pressure, so
mass forward actually increases stability.
Model rocketeers often find themselves adding
mass to the nose of their rockets (or adding fin
area) to improve stability.

- Ed Kyle