After launch the rocket adjusts its path to achieve orbit around the planet. So it doesn't go "straight up" all the way. Instead it takes a course that puts it in orbit at a certain speed.

Less pollution, healthier and more productive citizenry due to not choking on and thus not being sick as often, less reliant on digging a finite resource out of the ground.

Now queue the nuclear fanbois who will tell us this is impossible and the only solution is more reactors.