Launching from the Moon

Space/Science » in reply to re: why go to Mars from the Moon?

Launching from the Moon

Tom Brosz — 1/15/2004 2:59:08 AM (archived)

Without an atmosphere, magnetic catapults work for launching from the Moon, and they only need power, not propellant.

Good news: the technology for making such a thing work, especially in a vacuum, is fairly straightforward.

Bad news: we're talking a MAJOR construction project for a catapult that could launch into interplanetary space at 3 G's or less. If my numbers are right, a 3G catapult that would give you 8,000 fps (lunar escape velocity) would be over 60 miles long.

The whole thread (29 posts)

why go to Mars from the Moon? - Delbert - 1/15/2004 1:02:43 AM
- re: why go to Mars from the Moon? - Larry J - 1/15/2004 1:46:27 AM
  - That's Not The Main Problem - Mark Eby - 1/15/2004 3:07:53 AM
    - Refueling on the Moon was debunked decades ago - Gary - 1/15/2004 6:09:02 AM
      - Would you care to elaborate? - McFly - 1/15/2004 2:21:56 PM
        
        re: Would you care to elaborate? - Gary - 1/15/2004 6:39:30 PM
        
        re: Would you care to elaborate? - McFly - 1/15/2004 7:24:42 PM
        
        re: Would you care to elaborate? - gbaikie - 1/15/2004 9:20:27 PM
      - re: Lunar Resources - Success_Machine - 1/15/2004 8:43:27 AM
        
        Helium 3 oversold - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2004 5:08:34 PM
        
        Helium 3 is complete bull dung - Gary - 1/15/2004 5:37:05 PM
        
        re: Lunar Base will be set up around 2020 AD - Success_Machine - 1/26/2004 1:59:32 PM
        
        Nuclear fusion - Gary - 1/27/2004 6:43:05 AM
        
        re: Nuclear fusion - Ryan - 1/28/2004 10:00:59 AM
        
        re: Lunar Helium-3, and Orbiting Fusion Powerplants - Success_Machine - 1/15/2004 8:55:34 AM
        
        re: Orbital Skyhook (ARMXER) concept - Success_Machine - 1/15/2004 9:47:16 AM
        
        Has anyone ever accused you of not "Dreaming big"? N/T (n/t) - Scott Evil - 1/15/2004 3:31:07 PM
        
        re: I don't see any other way - Success_Machine - 1/16/2004 6:00:16 AM
        
        re: I don't see any other way - Ryan - 1/28/2004 10:44:41 AM
  - Launching from the Moon - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2004 2:59:08 AM
- What he means is - Buck Galaxy - 1/15/2004 1:30:39 AM
  - re: What he means is - Mark Eby - 1/15/2004 3:15:43 AM
    - Relative delta-Vs don't matter. You're building Moon infrastructure using stuff launched from Earth. It makes no sense. - Chris Vancil - 1/15/2004 8:25:23 AM
      - re: Clarification: Moon fuel can't cost less than that from Earth unless it is already refined and in tanks when you get there. (n/t) - Chris Vancil - 1/15/2004 10:53:40 PM
      - re: Clarification: Moon fuel can't cost less than that from Earth unless it is already refined and in tanks when you get there. (n/t) - Chris Vancil - 1/15/2004 10:53:27 PM
  - It's Easier to Reach The Moon From Mars Than Earth. - Mark Eby - 1/15/2004 3:12:17 AM
    - Why reinvent the wheel? - Old space fan - 1/25/2004 1:00:00 PM
      - Shuttle Simply Doesn't Have Enough Power. - Mark Eby - 1/25/2004 9:08:23 PM
        
        re: Shuttle Simply Doesn't Have Enough Power. - gbaikie - 1/26/2004 11:37:46 PM

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