The American practice came in part because American launch sites are on the coastline and launch primarily over water. Russian launch sites such as Baikonur Cosmodrome are far inland, and most early launch aborts would descend on land.
The American practice came in part because American launch sites are on the coastline and launch primarily over water Russian launch sites such as Baikonur Cosmodrome are far inland and most early launch aborts would descend on land