Rocket Launch from Mt. Everest Equator: Benefits & Efficiency

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Launching a rocket from the top of Mt. Everest, if it were located on the equator, would significantly enhance efficiency due to reduced atmospheric drag and a higher starting altitude. The benefits include the "sling-shot effect," the ability to use wider rocket nozzles, and an overall reduction in drag for payloads aiming for low Earth orbit. The efficiency gain is contingent on the target altitude, with different impacts for reaching 10 miles versus 20 miles high. Understanding the relationship between air density and drag is crucial for calculating the exact efficiency improvements. Ultimately, launching from Everest could allow for a heavier payload with the same fuel compared to sea-level launches.
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Lets say Mt. Everest was located on the equator. How much more efficient would it be to launch a rocket from the top of this mountain as compared to a sea-level Florida launch? There would be much less atmosperic drag since you would be starting out 5-miles high. You would be slightly closer to space. The "sling-shot effect" would aid the launch. The rocket motor nozzle could be slightly wider (at higher altitude, wider is better). I am curious to know how much this would help (slightly heavier payload). Would it be 5% more efficient?
 
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The change in efficiency relies entirely on how high you are trying to go. For example, setting the end point at 10mi high is a lot different from saying you want the rocket to go 20mi high. You absolutely must know the height you are trying to get.

From there you also need to know the relation between air thickness and height, as well as the relation between drag and air thickness. Integrate one into the other to figure out how much drag happens between the starting point and the max height you are trying to get.

How high do you want the rocket to go?
 
Sorry, I should have specified that. Full size rocket (Shuttle, Ariane, etc) to low Earth orbit.
 
The main advantage is getting through the thick lower air + weather.
The Pegasus project launches satelites on boosters from under the wing of a converted airliner at around 40,000ft.
 
mgb_phys said:
The main advantage is getting through the thick lower air + weather. The Pegasus project launches satelites on boosters from under the wing of a converted airliner at around 40,000ft.
I assume the airliner is flying east which gives an additional boost to acheiving escape velocities?
 
The launch I saw was going west.
This is either to head into the jet stream and give the ageing L1011 more lift, or since they launch from California it is to point any accident away from a lot of expensive real estate and even more expensive lawyers.
 
If you launched the Shuttle from the top of Mt. Everest, how much more payload could it carry for same amount of fuel?
 

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