[FPSPACE] Railguns for Space Launch

[LARRY KLAES]

Railguns for Space Launch

The source of this post is this 10 page IEEE paper, Launch to
Space With an Electromagnetic Railgun by Ian R. McNab,
Senior Member, IEEE.

http://research.lifeboat.com/ieee.em.pdf

The cost of electricity for a launch will be negligible, as
shown below. Barrel life is central to the successful economics
for this system. A system might cost $1.3 billion and launch
for $500/kg. Recent tests fired 7 pound projectiles at 5637 mph.

Lunar escape velocity is 5,324 mph. So the truck sized system
is already good enough to launch from the surface of the moon.
Classic science fiction "the Moon is Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein
could become reality.

Other gun launch systems were reviewed and found lacking:
Only Electromagnetic railguns seem worthy of further study for
this application.

Full article here:

http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/02/railguns-for-space-launch.html


Electromagnetic Railgun Blasts Off

Technology Review Feb. 6, 2008

*************************

The Naval Surface Warfare Center
has fired the most powerful
electromagnetic railgun, sending a
seven-pound bullet out at seven
times the speed of sound with 10.6
megajoules of kinetic energy. The
device is part of the U.S. navy's
railgun development program. A
railgun could eventually send a
40-pound slug 200 miles in six
minutes--10 times...

http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=7946&m=25748