[Erasmus]

Thats why you only use it for cargo. You need a larger ring and a longer windup for fragile cargos such as humans, and even then it may be pretty tough.

You don't say!

Curvature radius of at least 1000 miles, so you might as well make it straight.

Then, you still have the problem of getting any appreciable positive z-dot (vertical velocity), on a launch ramp of workable size, without mashing the occupants into dinosaur cartilege.

[marron]

Curvature radius of at least 1000 miles, so you might as well make it straight.

You're probably right. Something I read years ago proposed doing it with a 350 mile track. I think the g forces quoted were pretty serious. I think your reference to dinosaur cartilage is pretty good.