>The rocket equation is what gives rise to the suicide burn being optimal
Nitpick, but this isn't strictly true.
Even if you don't count the vehicle getting lighter as it burns fuel (which is all the rocket equation does here), a suicide burn will still be optimal.
The real reason is because a suicide burn minimizes gravity loss.
Even if you don't count the vehicle getting lighter as it burns fuel (which is all the rocket equation does here), a suicide burn will still be optimal.
The real reason is because a suicide burn minimizes gravity loss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_loss