My post said something very similar and got deleted. But you are correct
There is no such thing as escape altitude. The reason we go high is to overcome the friction that a thick atmosphere creates. Then the rocket executes a roll maneuver such that pre-orbital insertion reaches escape velocity.
In the case of Musk’s boosters, they essentially go straight up and begin the roll and drop off shortly after. This is why it’s practical for them to land back at the pad. The core stage continues to provide thrust dod orbital insertion and this drops down on a barge in the ocean. This makes perfect sense
My post said something very similar and got deleted. But you are correct
There is no such thing as escape altitude. The reason we go high is to overcome the friction that a thick atmosphere creates. Then the rocket executes a roll maneuver such that pre-orbital insertion reaches escape velocity.
In the case of Musk’s boosters, they essentially go straight up and begin the roll and drop off shortly after. This is why it’s practical for them to land back at the pad. The core stage continues to provide thrust dod orbital insertion and this drops down on a barge in the ocean. This makes perfect sense