Well, a startup has successfully tested an alternative kinetic energy launch system to throw a rocket thousands of metres into the air
- Spinlaunch says it performed a successful test flight of its kinetic energy launch systems in New Mexico in October, hurling n three-metre-long rocket many thousands of metres into the air-without it needing any fuel
- The test was conducted using a 90-metre-tall centrifuge test machine about one third the size of the planned final launcher-running at just 20% capacity
- The final launcher will be able to spin a rocket, carrying a 200kg satellite payload, at up to 8,000km/h before releasing it through a launch tube-essentially throwing the rocket far into the sky. When the projectile reaches the upper atmosphere, a small rocket assembly fires to edge it into the correct orbit
- Spinlaunch can only be used to launch unmanned craft due to the g-forces involved. A human can pass out at 3g, the centrifuge creates 10.000g
- The designers say that reducing fuel costs is one of the key barriers to affordable spaceflight making their system an attractive alternative.
- Chemical rockets must carry the energy needed to leave Earth with them. So a rocket such as the Satum V. that put man on the moon, actually consists of over 90% fuel tanks. The SpinLaunch system negates the need to carry huge, heavy fuel loads
- Today, a small satellite launch costs around $7 million. Spintaunch hope to do it for under half-a-million dollars, beginning as soon as 2024
Picture Credit : Google
