Coil gun launch technology

[PJay_A]

I think this clean and inexpensive (and relatively simple) technology should have been developed like yesterday. Does anyone know if it is being developed by any private company or government entity? Imagine a fuel-less, vibration-free, and inexpensive space launch platform. From what I understand, the technology is there. We just need to build a system to scale to make it into orbit. What's the hold-back? Money? Technological hurdles to overcome? If it's money, I would imagine that it could be raised privately given the long-term financial gain of selling launch services....

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I think this clean and inexpensive (and relatively simple) technology should have been developed like yesterday. Does anyone know if it is being developed by any private company or government entity? Imagine a fuel-less, vibration-free, and inexpensive space launch platform. From what I understand, the technology is there. We just need to build a system to scale to make it into orbit. What's the hold-back? Money? Technological hurdles to overcome? If it's money, I would imagine that it could be raised privately given the long-term financial gain of selling launch services.... <br />Posted by PJay_A</DIV></p><p>This technology has been in a research stage for years.&nbsp; It is not as mature as you seem to think.&nbsp; <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Mee_n_Mac]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I think this clean and inexpensive (and relatively simple) technology should have been developed like yesterday. Does anyone know if it is being developed by any private company or government entity? Imagine a fuel-less, vibration-free, and inexpensive space launch platform. From what I understand, the technology is there. We just need to build a system to scale to make it into orbit. What's the hold-back? Money? Technological hurdles to overcome? If it's money, I would imagine that it could be raised privately given the long-term financial gain of selling launch services.... <br />Posted by <strong>PJay_A</strong></DIV><br /><br />The problem with any "gun-like" approach to putting things into orbit is that you've got all your velocity (and then some) needed for orbit at low altitude where the air is&nbsp;most dense.&nbsp; This means you've got a lot or resistance/drag along with&nbsp;heating and forces exerted on the payload.&nbsp; If the Space Shuttle is risky entering the outer atmosphere doing Mach25 imagine the reverse, doing MachXX at sea level and surviving to do Mach25+ at high altitudes to reach orbit.&nbsp; Perhaps for small, aerodynamic payloads it can be done but it's no mean feat. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------------</p><p><font color="#ff0000">Ask not what your Forum Software can do do on you,</font></p><p><font color="#ff0000">Ask it to, please for the love of all that's Holy, <strong>STOP</strong> !</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The problem with any "gun-like" approach to putting things into orbit is that you've got all your velocity (and then some) needed for orbit at low altitude where the air is&nbsp;most dense.&nbsp; This means you've got a lot or resistance/drag along with&nbsp;heating and forces exerted on the payload.&nbsp; If the Space Shuttle is risky entering the outer atmosphere doing Mach25 imagine the reverse, doing MachXX at sea level and surviving to do Mach25+ at high altitudes to reach orbit.&nbsp; Perhaps for small, aerodynamic payloads it can be done but it's no mean feat. <br />Posted by mee_n_mac</DIV><br /><br />And the acceleration required is brutal, most likely far beyond what even hardened structures can tolerate.</p><p>BTW, humans are squishy.... </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[kelvinzero]

<p>Mass driver technology is cool</p><p>Most people think the first likely use would be launching small payloads from the moon. Oxygen could be one useful export. Even if it only launched kg sized payloads it could do so continually adding up to many tons a day.</p><p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver.</p><p>In a&nbsp;century or two&nbsp;with a large population and industry on the moon it might be reasonable to build mass drivers thousands of miles long that can launch and land human carrying vessels. If it went all the way around then you could accelerate or decellerate as slowly as you like. Could also carry you around the moon of course, and carry power from solar cell farms on the day side to bases on the night side.</p><p>btw the american navy recently demonstrated an electromagnetic gun that could fire payloads at what happend to be the escape velocity of the moon.</p><p><u><font color="#810081">http://www.livescience.com/technology/080201-electromagnetic-record.html</font></u>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun</p><p>&nbsp;</p>