Space/Science » in reply to Check this out

A trebuchet would be a lot easier to aim than a inline mass driver.

Lee — 12/28/2005 9:19:50 PM (archived)

Imagine the large counter weight is made of metal with a very powerful electromagnet placed underneath it. As the weight begins to fall, the magnet is activated accelerating its momentum. How long would the lever have to be and how powerful would the magnet have to be in order to accelerate a useful sized payload of lets say 1000kg to lunar orbit?

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The whole thread (18 posts)

• An idea for magnetic acceleration from the Moon. - Lee - 12/28/2005 6:32:39 AM
  • How many people think that a "spring" will get us into mspace... ? - nick hoffman - 12/28/2005 4:21:25 PM
    • In all fairness... - alcaray - 12/28/2005 5:09:04 PM
      • I wasn't talking about manned launches. - Lee - 12/28/2005 6:35:17 PM
        • Whatever you were talking about... - nick hoffman - 12/29/2005 3:24:12 AM
          • Small whoops - nick hoffman - 12/29/2005 3:26:43 AM
            • For raw materials like minerals and ice... - Tom Brosz - 12/29/2005 3:53:27 AM
              • not a ludicrous idea? - nick hoffman - 12/29/2005 5:10:09 AM
        • Check this out - LJK - 12/28/2005 7:37:30 PM
          • A trebuchet would be a lot easier to aim than a inline mass driver. - Lee - 12/28/2005 9:19:50 PM
            • Moving parts. Bearings. Metal under stress. (n/t) - alcaray - 12/28/2005 9:50:32 PM
              • Magnetic bearings. - Lee - 12/29/2005 1:04:52 AM
                • I don't think that a magnet strong enough to suspend your lever arm against that force... - alcaray - 12/29/2005 4:38:44 PM
                  • Maybe. - Lee - 12/30/2005 4:31:29 AM
  • linear accelerator is much better (n/t) - alcaray - 12/28/2005 3:49:35 PM
  • trivial - nick hoffman - 12/28/2005 2:52:07 PM
    • re: From the Moon - Raoul - 12/28/2005 6:09:14 PM
      • 0.5 g for how long? - nick hoffman - 12/29/2005 3:30:59 AM