Scots catapult to land people on the moon

Times Online ^ | 04/02/06

[KevinDavis]

IT IS more familiar as the weapon of choice for naughty schoolboys, but Scottish scientists have used the humble catapult to inspire a new branch of research that could revolutionise space travel, writes Marc Horne.

Researchers at Glasgow University are working on the production of a giant stellar “slingshot” that they believe can be used to propel spacecraft to the moon.

Their research has caught the eye of experts at Nasa, who claim the technology could cut the cost of space travel dramatically and lead to the establishment of lunar bases within 20 years. They also believe the technology could be used for manned space missions.

[KevinDavis]

[bnelson44]

Is it just me or do the Scotts have an obsession about catapults?

[Fzob]

I think the catapult was tried once in the future

[the invisib1e hand]

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"Should I tell 'em how t' really do it, laddie?"

[My2Cents]

Moonmen will pour boiling oil on them if they try.

[phantomworker]

Or trebuchet?

[PetroniusMaximus]

In other news, Scottish scientists revealed today that they are very close to perfecting a "bagpipe engine". The engine is ale-fuled and converts ale to hot air.

The scientist also revealed that the engine doesn't actually send the operator to the moon but drives other standing nearby to the moon.

[Meadow Muffin]

They want to design it so it will launch all of the haggis in Scotland.

[diverteach]

"I think the catapult was tried once in the future"

Sure you're not thinking about Willi E Coyote in the past. As I recall it was most likely made by ACME.

[dfwgator]

'THEY MEAN TO WIN WIMBLEDON'

[NTW64]

I never met a Scotsman I wanted to fight... but would have without choice is I referred to them as Scots or Scotts as much as these posters here are.

[cripplecreek]

Fling me to the moon...

[jla]

Is it just me or do the Scotts have an obsession about catapults?

Oh, these Scots scientists always get a tad wacky after several oatmeal stouts and copious amounts of Glenmorangie.

Whatever became of Sheena Easton? I always thought her to be very beautiful, as well as a wonderful singer.

[bdfromlv]

Haggis isnt that bad if you dont describe it while eating.

[dighton]

Robert Burns is deeply saddened.

[Riley]

Fling me to the moon...

ROFL!!

[dfwgator]

"Git yer haggis, right here. Chopped heart n' lungs. Boiled in a wee sheeps' stomach. Taste's as good as it sounds. Good for what ails ya"

[john drake]

Yep, sounds about right. Leave it up to my Scottish ancestors to figure out a way to more frugally send a man to the moon.

[mikrofon]

[From the article:]

it is estimated a spacecraft could reach the moon’s atmosphere within four days, where it would be caught by another tether in low orbit, which would deposit it safely on the lunar surface.... Because there is no atmosphere on the moon, the tether would be able to touch the moon surface,

Nice consistent report -- I'd tend to put more credence in the Ralph Kramden method myself.

[Lady Jag]

This is it:

[NTW64]

That was one worth saving, as the son of a Newf and an American with European (not french) ancestors while living in NJ I relate to the dialect and A good Fight!

[Armigerous]

..."fling me up,Scottie"

[Mike Darancette]

If it's not Scottish it's crap.

[elcid1970]

Remember Monty Python's suicidal samurai Scotsmen, and how they were flung by catapult straight into the heart of Moscow itself, forcing the Soviet Army to call in its

Unexploded Scotsmen Squad!

(the detached head, defused in a bucket of water, still topped by a bearskin busby, was priceless!)

[SLB]

Wasn't this article supposed to have been published on April 1st instead of 2nd?

[Vince Ferrer]

Once hurled away from the tether, it is estimated a spacecraft could reach the moon’s atmosphere within four days,

The author seems to have meant orbit, but you never know with the MSM

[cripplecreek]

I read a book by Robert L Forward a few years back. I think the title was "Saturn Rukh". In the book a ship was using nanotube filaments as tethers to catch Saturns moons to get in and out of the Saturnian gravity well.

[A knight without armor]

But bagpipes are not that aerodynamic.

[Balding_Eagle]

I think the catapult was tried once in the future

I don't remember that happening, yet.

[A knight without armor]

LOL!
LOL!

Good one!

[darth]

The concept of the rotating tether in low Earth orbit was invented by Moravec in 1959. They were called Moravec Wheels at that time. You can also spin one up by lowering asteroid or Lunar regolith on the tether to gain angular momentum. I hope the Scottish researchers cited Moravec in their paper.

[RichInOC]

"What time is it?'
"I dunno."
"Time...to unpimp ze planet!"

[Bean Counter]

Real Catapults are Steam Powered...

[Fzob]

In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" the Moon attacks Earth with a catapult.

[billbears]

Their research has caught the eye of experts at Nasa, who claim the technology could cut the cost of space travel dramatically and lead to the establishment of lunar bases within 20 years. They also believe the technology could be used for manned space missions.

Yep, that's the way. Let NASA get their hands on it. Will end up costing 20 times what originally was estimated and will be used for the next 4 decades as 'cutting edge'. Of course that's a description of the current space bus but hey NASA is the place to go if you're looking to continue using out of date technology and don't mind wasting tax payer dollars.

I would suggest the Scots keep this as far away from NASA as possible and engage in fruitful conversation with a private company if they want to be alive to see the day when this technology is ever used

[operation clinton cleanup]

The idea seems to be more about tethers than catapults...

[festus]

Their research has caught the eye of experts at Nasa, who claim the technology could cut the cost of space travel dramatically

Not if NASA impelents it. It'll cost twice as much as anything ever built to date and as an added bonus it won't work.

[Paradox]

I seem to recall coming across various versions of this idea over the past few decades, in Sci-Fi as well as science articles. It certainly isn't as new as the article makes it seem, although the exact details may be new..

[manwiththehands]

"... a spacecraft could reach the moon’s atmosphere ...

Duh.

The moon does not have an atmosphere.

[Rose in RoseBear]

"What'll we do, throw rocks at 'em?"

[prisoner6]

The Froggies have been working on a similar prject but have yet to reach escape velocity.

Zee Frenchy-French Human Slingshot (requires Quicktime)

But then The Finns have been taking a more hi-tech route.

Rocket Boots

prisoner6

[S0122017]

In other news, Scottish scientists revealed today that they are very close to perfecting a "bagpipe engine". The engine is ale-fuled and converts ale to hot air. The scientist also revealed that the engine doesn't actually send the operator to the moon but drives other standing nearby to the moon.

Scots dont need bagpipe engines for that.

[manwiththehands]

That's a classic from CNN: "Shuttle traveling nearly 18 times the speed of light"!?

Next, CBS will be telling us the world is flat.

[ItsForTheChildren]

Fling me to the moon...

ROFLMAO! Oh geez... thanks! I needed that!

[AFreeBird]

Is that pic for real? I gather from what I can see of the logo, that its CNN.

18 Times the speed of light, wow! I didn't know the shuttles were powered with Dylithium Crystals.