3 ms·

You use an extremely long track, not high acceleration.

• mikeash 7y ago
  Hard to do if you’re aiming straight up.
  • CapricornNoble 7y ago
    You'd have to re-purpose something like a deep mining shaft from a diamond mine, then stick a giant rail gun in it, almost like Germany's V-3 cannon[1] but on steroids. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-3_cannon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-3_cannon
  • imtringued 7y ago
    No we aren't aiming straight up because we need to get into orbit. We need to go sideways as fast as possible. As long as you're not aiming at the ground you will always aim "up" but not straight up.
    • mikeash 7y ago
      “Imagine putting one or many of those new Space X internet satellites into a rail gun that goes straight up.” Firing sideways could save you much more fuel but also means you’re in the lower atmosphere at much higher speed and for much longer.