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Rockets are launched as close to the equator as possible to launch satellites most economically by taking full advantage of the Earth's rotational velocity, which is about 1000 miles per hour at the equator and slower at all higher latitudes. This is 1000 miles per hour less speed that the rocket needs to provide and a significant savings in rocket fuel.

However, other rockets are not launched from the equator as there is no similar advantage (e.g. rockets launching polar orbiting satellites or military warheads can be launched from anyplace and going to the equator to launch them would be an unnecessary expense with many disadvantages).

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