This forum has a number of people who work in & know a lot about space. It also has a lot of people who are keen on space but don't have the same knowledge. Perhaps those that know, can help those that don't.
The Falcon Heavy, which will operate from the Kennedy Space Center (about 29 degrees North) can lift 53,000kg to LEO (Source: Wikipedia) but only 12,000kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
Presumably, if FH were to launch from the equator, it would be able to put 53,000kg directly into a geostationary transfer orbit. Which means that those 29 degrees cost 41,000kg of GTO payload.
So would it be fair to assume...
1: That the FH could lift 53,000kg into a geostationary transfer orbit?
2: That the FH would gain/lose about 1,414kg of GTO payload per degree North/South?
3: That, if it were to launch from 38 degrees North or higher, it wouldn't be able to put anthing into a geostationary transfer orbit?
In short, can someone explain, in simple terms, how GTO payload is reduced by launching away from the equator, and by how much?
This forum has a number of people who work in & know a lot about space. It also has a lot of people who are keen on space but don't have the same knowledge. Perhaps those that know, can help those that don't.
The Falcon Heavy, which will operate from the Kennedy Space Center (about 29 degrees North) can lift 53,000kg to LEO (Source: Wikipedia) but only 12,000kg to geostationary transfer orbit.
Presumably, if FH were to launch from the equator, it would be able to put 53,000kg directly into a geostationary transfer orbit. Which means that those 29 degrees cost 41,000kg of GTO payload.
So would it be fair to assume...
1: That the FH could lift 53,000kg into a geostationary transfer orbit?
2: That the FH would gain/lose about 1,414kg of GTO payload per degree North/South?
3: That, if it were to launch from 38 degrees North or higher, it wouldn't be able to put anthing into a geostationary transfer orbit?
In short, can someone explain, in simple terms, how GTO payload is reduced by launching away from the equator, and by how much?
Just because you are at the equator does not mean that LEO to GTO is free. Ariane has 20 t to LEO and a bit over10 t to GTO. With an upgraded methane upper stage FH could reach that ratio. An upgraded US would also increase LEO payload. So 30t to GTO would be a plausible maximum payload.