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Science

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)

10. a small version for payloads might be practical

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Sun Mar 18, 2012, 12:18 PM

Mar 2012

basically a large rail gun

but I am not sure that this will be viable for humans (or anything living) within my lifetime

It seems to me that a space elevator would make more sense and be a similarly difficult project. Building something 12 miles high that can deal with those speeds can't be much easier than the elevator that is designed for much much lower speeds.

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Startram - maglev train to low earth orbit [View all] bananas Mar 2012 OP

This is an interesting idea, but... johnd83 Mar 2012 #1

On the moon, the tube wouldn't have to be suspended, it could just lay flat on the surface bananas Mar 2012 #2

Right, that is why it makes sense on the moon. johnd83 Mar 2012 #3

As crazy as this sounds, it still doesn't sound as crazy as a space elevator. tridim Mar 2012 #4

What am I missing here quakerboy Mar 2012 #5

Good questions - I wonder if the report from Sandia National Labs is available. nt bananas Mar 2012 #7

They plan on cooling 20km of superconducting cable how? Angleae Mar 2012 #6

Doc Brown's plutonium? tridim Mar 2012 #8

They intend on generating 1 million amps... ElboRuum Mar 2012 #12

Research continues apace on warm superconductors.. Fumesucker Mar 2012 #13

With superconductors the voltage drop is essentially zero caraher Mar 2012 #14

I was answering a couple of questions about cooling the superconductor and generating 200 MA Fumesucker Mar 2012 #15

"If we arrange that there is a superconducting cable on the ground carrying 200 million amperes" phantom power Mar 2012 #9

a small version for payloads might be practical Motown_Johnny Mar 2012 #10

"This new requirement begs the question..." ElboRuum Mar 2012 #11

Don't worry about it... Dead_Parrot Apr 2012 #18

Simple question regarding this concept: caraher Apr 2012 #16

OK, I found what I think is the answer... caraher Apr 2012 #17