And one can't launch over the Pacific from California BECAUSE?
And one can't launch over the Pacific from California BECAUSE? While I expect condescending remarks from at least someone in this forum for having asked this sort of question in a discussion forum (of all places), why can't there be launching over the Pacific from Vandenberg? The Earth apparently rotates in such a way (from left to right, correct?) that even if the vessel goes straight up, it will wind up over the Pacific ocean reasonably soon. I admit that I ascertain that the Earth rotates from left to right merely because the East Coast of the USA reaches darkness sooner than the West Coast. Unless of course one's on the edge of the planet, in which case one falls off like Columbus almost did ;-)