Why is the launchpad located near the sea in many countries?

Launchpads are often located near the sea or coastlines for safety and technical reasons. Coastal locations allow rockets to launch eastward over open water, reducing risk to populated areas in case of failure. Launching east takes advantage of Earth’s rotation, providing a natural velocity boost that saves fuel. The sea also facilitates transportation of large rocket components by ship and helps manage noise and shock waves. Additionally, open ocean areas are used as safe drop zones for spent rocket stages. Examples include Cape Canaveral (USA), Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Sriharikota (India’s coastal spaceport).