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Frankly, I'd like to see some kind of maglev-based launch platform that propels the rocket up the side of a mountain, and then lets the rocket's own boosters ta
by fshafique 7y ago
Frankly, I'd like to see some kind of maglev-based launch platform that propels the rocket up the side of a mountain, and then lets the rocket's own boosters take over.
- EForEndeavour 7y agoThat wouldn't fit on most ships.
- SomeOldThrow 7y agoYes, I've often found that events using "mountains" are intended to occur on land.
- SmellyGeekBoy 7y agoInsert obligatory "we're going to need a bigger boat" comment here.
- nine_k 7y agoThe tubular structure of most large rockets is well suited to withstand many gs of load along its axis. It's also quite fragile wrt side forces and bending. Making it stronger makes it also heavier. A device that can carry several tons to GEO and to start in a slanted position along a mountain would be a very different beast than a usual rocket. To say nothing about building several miles of an excessively straight maglev bridge along a mountain which is likely not that straight, and also highly visible.
- rdruxn 7y agoIf it’s accelerating along the longitudinal axis, then the slant doesn’t matter. It’ll never experience more than 1g orthogonal to the axis. The problem is getting out of the thickness of the lower atmosphere. That’s why rockets go up before they go sideways.
- SmellyGeekBoy 7y agoHow about a very similar concept, but implemented as a deep vertical shaft in the ground? The initial acceleration could be provided by electromagnets with the rockets only kicking in once the vehicle reaches ground level?