Giant electromagnetic 'launch ring' possible: U.S. air force

Discovery Channel (Canada) ^ | October 3 | Brian Jackson

[PghBaldy]

A large circular metal track could accelerate objects to supersonic speed using electromagnets and spit them out into space, says a report from the U.S. air force's Office of Scientific research.

Tagged as the Launch Ring by its inventing company, Launch Point Technologies, the track would be several kilometers in diameter. Similar to trains that hover on electromagnetic tracks, a sled would hover over the ring and be propelled forward using powerful magnets.

According to the company, a satellite protected by an eggshell-like capsule could sit atop the sled and slowly accelerate over a matter of hours to a supersonic 10 km/sec. Then a small explosion could detach the capsule from the sled and it would hurtle into a side tunnel.

From there, it would shoot up a ramp and through the atmosphere into outer space. Traveling at a 23 times the speed of sound, the capsule would experience forces 2,000 times that of normal gravity on Earth.

A rocket strapped on the capsule would correct the trajectory so that it correctly aligned itself in orbit.

The Goleta California company has received funding to begin a two-year study within several weeks. Boosters of the ring hope to one day use it for thousands of launches a year, at a fraction of today's cost of putting things in space.

Humans could never withstand the forces exerted during the ring's launch process. Under existing technological limitations, it could only be used to propel supplies to be used by humans on a long-term mission in outer space, or to put satellites into orbit.

The Air Force also suggests it could be used for military purposes, quickly launching weapons around the world.

[PghBaldy]

I was looking for something else, and saw this. Very interesting.

[verum ago]

Humans could never withstand the forces exerted during the ring's launch process

Senator Kennedy, we would like you to be the first launch-ring astronaut...

[Zeroisanumber]

Use it to throw casks of nuclear waste out into the Sun.

[kinoxi]

Ping to read later

[PghBaldy]

The last sentence is what I thought made the article fascinating. Hopefully, some educated Freeper will comment on this...

[Tax Government]

The ring should be inclined, so that the need for an up-ramp is minimized.

[Sloth]

Humans could never withstand the forces exerted during the ring's launch process.

Unless we get those inertial dampers worked out... Until then, we're chunky salsa.

[A CA Guy]

Egg shaped I would guess.

[denydenydeny]

The Air Force also suggests it could be used for military purposes, quickly launching weapons around the world.

This would be perfect for putting "Rods from God" into orbit during a military confrontation.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It sounds good to me.
This type of boost would work better if it was as near the equator and a high mountain was the take off point!

[martin_fierro]

Willie Green where are ya.

[Phsstpok]

Related article/thread

Huge 'Launch Ring' To Fling Satellites Into Orbit

[Dr.Zoidberg]

The ring should be inclined, so that the need for an up-ramp is minimized.

As long as the ring system isn't enormous, the majority of it could be built vertically underground with the muzzle end open to the sky.

If built in heavy bedrock, it would resist the massive forces involved during power-up and launch, it could also contain any possible kinetic explosion should something go awry and the projectile leave the track prematurely.

[bnelson44]

http://www.launchpnt.com/Space_Launch.32.0.html

[PghBaldy]

Thank you. I LOVE the graphic of the concept.

[Tax Government]

The launcher could be put in the deepwater ocean where it can be moved and reoriented to achieve different orbits. It might be:

1) a smaller ring, say 1-5 km in diameter, with a straight exit tube ending at the water's surface; or

2) linear (10+ km).

The straight exit tube removes one source (maybe the biggest source) of stress on the payload.

[Quix]

Would love to see this built.

[ASOC]

Sci-fi always picked Pikes Peak - the air is a bit thinner there so the payload is less likely to vaporize on launch.

OTOH - ring = pork for CA beltway bandits.

[Prost1]

This has been kicked around now for a few years. Just a company trying to get tax $$ to support their theory.

Theory good, costs bad.

[GSlob]

First things first. The large ring with its sled will have to be under vacuum, or at least sit atop a VERY high mountain. Otherwise the energy dissipation on friction with gas will become astronomical, Secondary, if one is to somehow [what kind of air lock would work at such speeds?] introduce a 10km/sec object into a dense air, the air resistance would dramatically slow it down and burn it to smoke. The large meteors explode at these speeds in much thinner air than 1 atm, or arrive to the planet surface fragmented and molten.