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The interesting thing about this technology, is that it's a way to bypass the rocket equation - in theory at least. There are a lot of practical objections, not
by frederikvs 4y ago
The interesting thing about this technology, is that it's a way to bypass the rocket equation - in theory at least. There are a lot of practical objections, not the least of which is the fact that they've had to add so much heat shielding that it cancels out the gains of not needing to take so much propellant. But maybe they can work around that at some point.
The practical problems make me skeptical, but the potential advantages make me hopeful. To all the skeptics out there : remember that people were also skeptical when SpaceX said they wanted to land their rockets, yet here we are.
“People who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it.” - George Bernard Shaw
- panick21_ 4y agoThe difference is that even the best case of SpinLaunch does not match the best case for SpaceX. You still end up with a non-reusable small launcher that cant put most payloads into orbit. And making it much bigger is not that practical.
- ge96 4y agoPossible to bore a hole through the atmosphere briefly via powerful concentric lasers before it leaves the barrel?
- TheSpiceIsLife 4y agoIt doesn't bypass the rocket equation. Any fuel you want to use on a spin launched craft still needs to be accelerated with the craft if you intend on using it to power that craft.
- saagarjha 4y agoIt "bypasses" it by reducing the amount of fuel needed at the start, which (via the rocket equation) means substantially less fuel that needs to be carried.