Posted on 01/30/2020 6:09:21 PM PST by aimhigh
(snip) a cryptic startup called SpinLaunch starts suborbital test flights of a rocket that is launched using an enormous centrifuge.
Here's the gist: A centrifuge the size of a football field will spin a rocket around in circles for about an hour until its speed eventually exceeds 5,000 miles per hour. At that point, the rocket and its payload will feel forces 10,000 times stronger than gravity. When the centrifuge finally releases the rocket at launch speed, it should, practically speaking, fly through the stratosphere until it fires its engines at the periphery of our atmosphere. (snip)
SpinLaunch hopes its new system will replace rocket boosters, which currently augment a rocket's own thrust power to escape the gravitational pull of Earth, and happen to be one of the most expensive components of a rocket launch. Even reusable boosters, like the ones powering the SpaceX Falcon 9, still require costly fuel and ongoing maintenance.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
The ACME Satellite Launch Company!
Good luck with that. The force would break welds, screws and rivets in the vehicle. You’re actually not saving any energy; you have to pay Isaac Newton for the motion no matter what.
Let’s book the entire DEMOCRAT party for the first trip.
Si, I can see pretty good!
Reminds me somehow of Gerald Bull’s gun-launched satellite research on Barbados, during which he shot test projectiles out of a cannon and into space. They didn’t enter orbit though. Not sure how topics many are in this keyword, but I know it’s at least one. :^)
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/geraldbull/index
While the centrifuge is up-and-running, why not share the cost among 200 “hardened” satellites, and fling them into space inititiated from an ocean-facing launch ramp?
Won’t the speed is reaches cause heat damage from air friction?
Agreed. The watermelon just exploded on impact.
I went back and looked at the gif. Her knees rose up as she rocked back. I think it was close but I don’t think her knees came up far enough, fast enough to deflect the melon. That could’ve lessened the blow. Yikes.
Depending on the mass of the thrower, natural freqeuncies, etc., could be managed.
No. 10k G’s isn’t all that uncommon. As an example, an artillery round goes down the barrel at 15k - 20k G’s with balloting loads in the 5k - 10k G’s range and setback loads in the 5k G range when the round leaves the barrel.
I’ve built and tested all kinds of electronics that survive these loads easily; moving parts too.
I’ve tested electronics up into the 100k G range. Loads like that are common on 20mm and 30mm ordinance; like the cannon on the Bradly fighting vehicle. Typically, the electronics for these types of rounds are the warhead fuze.
Basic Astrophysics says this is preposterous. What do spaceships returning to Earth use for breaks? The atmosphere. Where is the atmosphere the most dense? The ground. You will either lose all of your momentum to atmospheric friction or burn up your rocket.
.....and this device will be made of Unobtanium that is stronger that any know material on earth.........................
Then they open the door and let ‘er rip? Wow. Nuttier than I thought.
Doesn’t matter if it works. They got their government grant. I’d love to know what congressman is getting the kickback.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but escape velocity is 25,000 mph. They're 22,000 mph short.
But, hey, it's only numbers, right?
What could possibly go wrong with this concept.
A rocket and contents of an undetermined weight traveling at 5,000 MPH
Obviously will not be manned!
Not sure what kind of payload or rocket could withstand the G-force
Somehow I get the feeling of an impending Myth Busters or Three Stooges participation.
“How, exactly, is this rocket going to spin around in circles for about an hour until its speed eventually exceeds 5,000 miles per hour and not melt or fall apart from the heat?”
I saw your question was answered, but also keep in mind that the projectile/satellite only experiences frictional heating for 1 minute, far shorter than any re-entry vehicle...so just maybe they don’t get toasted...but they still have that huge g-force.
But given the g-force, if they can meet their claims, expect larger launchers, which would lower the g’s and thus allow additional (i.e., more sensitive) payloads.
“Wont the speed is reaches cause heat damage from air friction?”
But it only sees that for 1 minute prior to the firing of the rocket thrusters at 200,000 feet. And then those thrusters only fire for another minute, and they’re well clear of the atmosphere. So all of heating is confined to, maybe, 90 seconds - which may well prevent damage.
Wouldnt be needed on the moon.. ever see the lunar landers from Apollo take off? Such a low gravity those tiny engines were enough to get back to the orbiter.
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