Launch to space with an electromagnetic railgun
McNab, I.R.
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
Volume 39, Issue 1, Jan 2003 Page(s): 295 - 304
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TMAG.2002.805923
Summary:Many advances in electromagnetic (EM) railgun and power supply technology have been made in recent years. Laboratory experiments with railguns have demonstrated muzzle velocities of 2-3 km/s and muzzle energies >8 MJ. The extension of this technology to the muzzle velocities (≥7500 m/s) and energies (≥10 GJ) needed for the direct launch of payloads into orbit is very challenging, but may not be impossible. For launch to orbit, even long launchers (>1000 m) would need to operate at accelerations >1000 gees to reach the required velocities, so that it would only be possible to launch rugged payloads, such as fuel, water, and material. A railgun system concept is described here and technology development issues are identified. Estimated launch costs could be attractively low (<$600/kg) compared with the Space Shuttle (>$20 000/kg), provided that acceptable launch rates can be achieved. Further evaluations are needed to establish the technical and economic feasibility with confidence.
View citation and abstract |
Cart
