5 ms·
The test track looks a little like a mass driver. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver
by jimmcslim 10y ago
The test track looks a little like a mass driver.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver
- jlebrech 10y agoI think hyperloop comes from a either failed attempt at a mass driver or is a preliminary to one in future and they just came up with stop gap application to it. what they need to do is create a vertical u-bend hyperloop and get a falcon 9 rocket to shoot down it and back out again repeatedly at high speed to create a space fountain.
- PeterFBell 10y agoFor anyone else who was wondering . . . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver
- jlebrech 10y agothe link is a above
- wrsh07 10y agoFascinating. Would a mass driver be easier to build to launch from Mars? (Eg for mining applications or similar)
- skykooler 10y agoYes, at least compared to Earth; orbital speeds are about half that of Earth, so a mass driver would only need to be a quarter of the length (because length climbs with target speed squared). Additionally, the far thinner atmosphere would allow vehicles to lose far less energy to aerodynamic forces.
- wrsh07 10y agoIt seems like regardless of ultimate outcome, then, musk (or humanity) wins because we are researching tech that will be super useful on Mars.
- walrus01 10y agoYou could also run a mass driver up the side of Olympus Mons, which is a very gentle slope yet is so tall its peak is above 90%+ of the martian atmosphere.