Posted on 10/03/2006 2:51:24 PM PDT by blam
Huge 'launch ring' to fling satellites into orbit
16:00 03 October 2006
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga
A ring of superconducting magnets fires a projectile off a ramp at 8 kilometres per second, fast enough to reach orbit (Artist’s conception: J Fiske/LaunchPoint)
A cone-shaped shell would protect the payload during its passage through the atmosphere into space, and includes a rocket at the back end to adjust its trajectory (Illustration: J Fiske/LaunchPoint Technologies) An enormous ring of superconducting magnets similar to a particle accelerator could fling satellites into space, or perhaps weapons around the world, suggest the findings of a new study funded by the US air force.
Proponents of the idea say it would be much cheaper than conventional rocket launches. But critics warn that the technology would be difficult to develop and that the intense g forces experienced during launch might damage the very satellites being lofted into space.
Previous studies have investigated the use of magnets to accelerate satellites to the high speeds required for launch. But most have focused on straight tracks, which have to gather speed in one quick burst. Supplying the huge spike of energy needed for this method has proven difficult.
The advantage of a circular track is that the satellite can be gradually accelerated over a period of several hours. And the setup is technologically feasible and cost effective, suggests a recent, preliminary study of the idea funded by the air force's Office of Scientific Research.
The air force has now given the go-ahead for more in-depth research of the idea. The two-year study will begin within a few weeks and be led by James Fiske of LaunchPoint Technologies in Goleta, California, US.
The launch ring would be very similar to the particle accelerators used for physics experiments, with superconducting.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientistspace.com ...
yes
That was a great post. I know when I read "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" way back when, I laughed for a week.
That was very good.Printed it out. Thanks
That convention kinda sounded like the start
of Inferno.LOL Great story Phsstpok
If you could just get some kind of thermonukleer rocket with about a hundred thousand times the specific thrust of chemical rockets, then everything becomes (almost) easy.
Ascend to medium earth orbit in 40 minutes, never exceeding 1.3 felt G's, never exceeding 100 M/S in the lower atmosphere. Most of the structural and aerodynamic constraints on the vehicle are removed; it doesn't have to look much like a "rocket" any more.
Reentry? Come back down the same way you went up. Slowly, with rockets burning. None of this fireball-with-thermal-tiles crap.
And you do this by using a few KG's of fuel. The lifting platform is mostly structure and engines, and up to half payload (including human environment, if manned).
And for a few KG more fuel and human provisions, why stop at orbit? A craft like this could take you to the Moon or Mars, and back, almost as easily.
Just a small matter of getting that nukleer rocket technology--and figuring out how to take off and land without burning a hole down to the middle of the planet.
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Bottom line is that it does not seem all that viable a solution. The article tries to wave away the G's issue by noting that the Army puts electronics in artillery shells that are subjected to greater stresses, but that seems like so much hand-waving
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